Southend council signs contract to redevelop Queensway estate

The multimillion-pound regeneration of the Queensway estate in Southend-on-Sea moved a step closer after the borough council and housing association Swan agreed terms for developing the scheme.

More than a year after the local authority launched its search for a partner, the Porters Pace Southend joint venture will be formed with a view to coming up with a masterplan that will eventually deliver more than 1,500 new homes across the site of the existing estate (pictured), which will be demolished.

Under Swan Housing’s plans at least 500 of the new homes will be affordable, more than the 441 originally demanded by the council.

The 50/50 joint venture, which will last for a term of 30 years, said it hoped to submit its masterplan for council approval next year, following further consultations with residents, local businesses and other stakeholders.This would include a timetable for the building work.

Southend chose Swan as its preferred bidder in February following what the council said was a “robust procurement process”. Swan’s example scheme included 1,600 homes, new green spaces and improved cycling paths and pedestrian walkways.

In January 2018 Southend secured £15m-worth of housing infrastructure funding from the government to help get the borough’s largest regeneration project for half a century off the ground.

Consultations with local people in 2017 revealed what Southend called “general support” for new housing, particularly affordable housing, “provided it is genuinely affordable”.

Locals also wanted to see a mix of homes for families and single people and high-quality public space that was “safe and secure”.

Following the consultation, the council said it would prevent commercial space from becoming a dominant feature of the development “and will seek to complement the high street rather than compete with it”.

Once the redevelopment work is completed the joint venture will then manage the site.

Andy Lewis, the council’s deputy chief executive, described the signing of contracts as “another important milestone in the regeneration of the Queensway estate.

“This is really just the beginning and there is much more work to be done. We are now collectively focused on the next stages. This includes working with stakeholders, including residents and businesses to prepare a masterplan for submission for planning approval and more will be announced in due course.”