THE rebirth of one of Leigh’s most iconic buildings could be in jeopardy after Southend Council hit owners with a “deal-breaking” planning clause.

Council chiefs gave the Grand Hotel, in Broadway, permission for a terrace at the front. It will be run as a luxury hotel with restaurant and bar.

However, a planning condition said the terrace can’t be used after 9.30pm.

The East Anglia Pub Company, which is behind the plans, said it won’t go ahead with the refurb unless the condition is dropped.

A spokesman for the company, who refused to be named, said: “Unless we are given the same consideration as other businesses in the area, we won’t be going ahead.

“At the moment, everything is on hold and there is a chance the Grand won’t be developed as the council is not willing to have a meeting with us about it.”

Other businesses in the area, including the neighbouring Mariners Court pub, also in Broadway, are allowed to use their outside areas until 11pm.

The spokesman added: “All we want to do is let people use the terrace the way they do at other bars and restaurants, but the council won’t even talk to us about this.

“If there were people out there having a meal at 9.30pm, we would have to go out and bring them in with their food. It’s crazy.”

He added the company was ready to start work on the improvements, but would not do so unless the planning condition was altered.

The Grand, which was built in 1899, has been empty since December 2008.

Mum-of-three, Sammi Kaya, 43, of Leighton Avenue, Leigh, lives near the Grand.

She said: “Leigh is noisy anyway, especially on a Friday and Saturday night. I really can’t see people sitting on a terrace will make any difference.

“I would prefer they did something nice with this building rather than leave it like it is. It will make the road better.”

Jo Holbrook, 38, also of Leighton Avenue, said: “The Grand is a lovely old building, and it would be a shame if it wasn’t going to get refurbished. It would be lovely to see the building made beautiful again because it is such a focal point in Leigh.”

The council’s head of planning and transport, Andrew Meddle, said: “We are concerned there could be a detrimental effect on residents if the terrace was allowed to stay open later than 9.30pm.

“There is no benefit in us meeting with the developer at this stage, as we have made our position clear.

“However, it is open to the developers to appeal the condition, or to apply to vary it.”