Planning Permission Secured

A FAMOUS dance troupe who established a dance studio within a former Westcliff church, have finally secured planning permission, nearly a year following its initial launch.

Ashley Banjo, the visionary behind Essex super dance group Diversity, acquired the premises of the Westcliff United Reformed Church Hall located on Kings Road in 2022.

The space underwent a transformation into a dance studio and commenced operations in September of the prior year.

However, despite Banjo’s acquisition being premised on the belief that the site could be repurposed into a dance studio, he later received information that contradicted this assumption, stating that such usage was legally impermissible.

Consequently, he submitted a formal planning application to the Southend Council, seeking approval for the change of the site’s purpose from a church to a dance studio, ans it is this application that has now been granted the green light.

The Westcliff United Reformed Church Hall ceased its operations in 2018 and remained vacant until Diversity assumed ownership. The church premises had also accommodated the Westcliff Nursery, which had occasionally rented rooms. However, due to diminishing visitors and users, the church eventually became vacant.

The site currently serves as a venue for dance training and offers lessons to the general public, accommodating a maximum of 50 students simultaneously.

Office hours are observed from Monday to Friday, spanning 10 am to 5 pm.

Picture: Diversity are full steam ahead in Westcliff

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