A BUSINESS made homeless by last month's disastrous pier fire could reopen in the empty shop at the bottom of the new Pier Hill development.

However, rival businesses are unhappy at the move because Southend Council said the unit should be used as a shop.

Mark Marriott, whose cafe Marriott's was destroyed in the pierhead blaze, is planning to submit an application for the unit, near the new Pier Hill lifts entrance.

He said: "I will be submitting an application this week to change the proposed use so I can put in a good-quality fish and chip restaurant. I was told the council would consider it."

The empty unit is designated for retail use and Mr Marriot needs the council to change it to leisure.

But the prospect of competition has dismayed traders running cafes in the neighbouring pier arches. Brian Varley, of the Waterfront Cafe, said: "We were told the shop would be retail only and there would be no more food outlets on the seafront."