LONG-AWAITED plans have been revealed to change the face of Southend town centre with new shopping centres, flats, restaurants and cafes.

Regeneration company Renaissance Southend has released its central area masterplan, a radical and comprehensive blueprint designed to inject new life into the High Street and town centre.

However, the transformation of the town centre depends on the redevelopment of town centre ground-level car parks.

A series of multi-storey car parks within five minutes of the town centre are planned as a replacement.

Renaissance Southend is acutely aware of dozens of town cetre blueprints and initiative that have been published over the past ten years.

This time, the company believes its plan will come to fruition s because of the support from key players who have the cash and know-how to see it through.

The University of Essex Southend and the Government's regeneration Agency, English Partnerships is one of those influential bodies which have thrown their weight behind the masterplan.

Already the process has begun with the sale of the Alexandra Street and Clarence Road car parks to English Partnerships.

Once alternative parking has been provided the car parks will be redeveloped as a complex of shops, markets, cafes and restaurants akin to the Brighton Lanes.

Theo Steel, Renaissance Southend chairman said: "It is important for the future of Southend that we widen the diversity and quality of shopping in the town centre.

"With the involvement of English Partnerships, there is a real opportunity for the investment of both private and public money in the town.

"With the Victoria Plaza refurbishment, the commitment of the University of Essex and the substantial investment in transforming the Marks and Spencer store, we are already beginning to see the fruits of the investment which has already taken place in the town centre."

Renaissance Southend chief executive Mike Lambert said: "The whole of the masterplan is designed to reinforce Southend's position as a "city by the sea".

Council leader sceptical

SOUTHEND'S new council leader has questioned the new town centre masterplan, insisting "we have to be realistic".

Nigel Holdcroft spoke out following the publication of the masterplan.

He said: "Obviously, any debate on the future of the town centre is welcome and there are points raised in Renaissance Southend's proposals are both stimulating and interesting.

"However, I would not say I am completely supportive of everything which is included in the proposals and the exhibition.

"We have to realistic and ensure that anything which is done will actually improve the real offer which the town has for its residents and visitors.

"I would not like to go down the road of knocking down half the town just for the sake of it.

"That happened once in the past and we have been living with the consequences of it for the past 40 years."

Mr Holdcroft said the cabinet and full council would be looking closely at all the suggestions which were put forward in the masterplan and would be making a considered response to Renaissance Southend when these had been completed.

It is expected the full consultation will be finally completed by November this year.