A businessman today told of his £2 million plans to transform his hotel into a world class venue capable of catering for the massive expansion of Southend Airport expected by late 2006.

Norman Powell has applied for planning permission to build two three-storey blocks containing 60 serviced apartments, plus an extension to the existing building to create another eight bedrooms, at Essex County Hotel, in Aviation Way, Southend.

He explained many of the apartments would contain at least two bedrooms, a living room and kitchenette.

He said: "Customers increasingly want more than a standard hotel room. I don't know of anywhere else nearby that will offer the same level of accommodation, we are the only hotel next to the airport."

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