PLANS have been revealed to restore one of Southend’s oldest buildings to its former glory.

Artists impressions released by developer Leonard Peters show the Grade II-listed 15 Royal Terrace transformed into seven flats, with a luxury penthouse. The rundown building, built in the 1790s, was put on English Heritage’s “at risk” register last year, because it was in such a poor state.

The Georgian building, which once included the Terrace Cafe on the ground floor, with flats above, has been empty since the last tenant moved out about a year ago.

Daniel Diep from the developer said the refurbishment would include the removal of more recent additions to the building and the restoration of an original Georgian-style roof.

He said: “We’ve come up with quite exciting plans to improve and restore the building to what it ought to look like and get rid of some of the additions which are not in keeping with the building.

“We want to really take it back and get rid of the top level and have a mansard roof, sowe can bring it back to how it was in the period it was built.

“It’s going to be massive amount of work, because it’s so dilapidated, but we want to start as soon as possible.

“Subject to planning permission, we’re hoping to get started in the latter part of this year.”

Royal Terrace, including the Royal Hotel, was built in the early 1790s when the fashion for seaside bathing meant coastal towns such as Southend became a draw for the wealthy and the aristocracy during the summer months.

In 1801, Princess Charlotte visited Southend and was followed by her mother, Princess Caroline of Wales, in 1804. She stayed at numbers 7-9, lending the terrace its Royal epithet.

Numbers 3-15 and the Royal Hotel (originally numbers 1-2) have been protected as Grade II listed buildings since November 23, 1951.