LOCKDOWN stalled a £100million seafront development but work will get back on track by the autumn.

The Covid-19 outbreak meant developers behind the huge Marine Plaza project - opposite the Kursaal - halted the scheme after jumping it jumped final planning hurdles earlier this year.

Work is now set to resume in September to kickstart the development, bosses say.

When complete, the three-acre seafront plot will provide 282 plush apartments and restaurants, cafes and bars overlooking the Golden Mile.

Cafes and restaurants are likely to face onto Marine Parade at ground and first floor levels.

The development will include towers of eight and twelve floors to accommodate the apartments.

At the heart of the scheme is one large public space with plants and trees, located over basement car parks.

Larry Fentiman, from the Inner London Group developers, said: “Marine Plaza is going ahead.

“We had three or four months of lockdown which caused disruption but things have been going on in the background slowly.

“It’s been hard getting hold of people and we haven’t had the flexibility of having people in the office.

“It has been a bit slow but we are pushing forward. I think this month we will start seeing lockdown lifted and that will get people back to work but July and August are the busiest months for holidays and after months of lockdown people will be desperate to get away so we are not expecting too much to happen.”

Mr Fentiman added: “We are going to hit the ground running in September. We still have lots of boxes to tick because it’s such a big development but we are looking to get started this year.

“We would already have started if it hadn’t been for lockdown.”

Marine Plaza will strike a modern building on the old Dizzyland opposite the Kursaal, also including the area of the old Foresters Arms pub, which was demolished last year.

The scheme was originally proposed by seafront businessman John Remblance in 2005 before being taken on by the Inner London Group.

Uncertain economic times and planning considerations led to long delays for the scheme but it was was given the final go-ahead earlier this year.

The Marine Plaza will neighbour the huge Seaway cinema and leisure scheme also on the seafront.