First steps towards a new Southend Pier

There's some good news if you're a fan of White Arkitekter's plans to redevelop Southend Pier. As revealed on Longpier.com last week, the Swedish firm beat off more than 70 architects to win a competition to redesign the Pier Head, which was ravaged by fire in 2005.

The initial blueprints have now been approved by Southend Borough Council's cabinet.