AN ambitious new development including a restaurant and luxury flats overlooking the River Crouch could help secure a yacht club’s long-term future.

Plans have been submitted to demolish the chandlery, cafe and other buildings beside the Royal Burnham Yacht Club at the quay in Burnham, and replace them with a two-and-a-half-storey building.

The new building would house a brand new restaurant, visitor centre and six two-bedroom duplex apartments with a shared rooftop terrace.

A spokesman for the development, said: “The development would assist in securing the long-term survival of the Royal Burnham Yacht Club by providing an income stream from residential ground rents and commercial leases.

“Yacht clubs are very important to the retention of sailing and other marine-related activities in the town, which has associated cultural, economic, social and environmental benefits.”

The development will also include 12 car parking spaces and a further two disability spaces, two motorbike bays and another six bicycle spaces.

The application’s heritage statement says certain elements of the site should be maintained as part of the development.

The statement from architects John James Associates said: “The existing original maritime crane is to be retained as an important heritage feature of the proposed development of the site, restored and refurbished and put into working operation.”

There are three yacht clubs in Burnham and sailing is regarded as being a key part of the town’s economy and history.

Developer TCM Burnham hopes the redevelopment of the area will continue to encourage more tourists to the River Crouch and as a result help the Royal Burnham Yacht Club to continue being a part of the community.

The developers said: “The three remaining yacht clubs in the town bring large numbers of sailors, spectators and tourists to Burnham each year, which results in the increased use of local facilities and shops.

“This is highlighted by sailing-based regattas such as Burnham Week – a very large event drawing significant numbers of visitors and tourists into the town and which could not exist without the yacht clubs.

“The existence of the yacht clubs accordingly directly benefits commerce and their loss would result in significant harm to the local economy and to the cultural life and heritage attraction of the town and wider district.”

To comment on the application, search for 18/01103/FUL on Maldon District Council’s planning portal.