UP to 650 jobs will remain in central Southend for at least two more years than planned, it has been revealed.

Southend’s HM Revenue and Customs building – Alexandra House in Victoria Avenue – was set to close and move in 2020 to Stratford under Government plans to create larger regional centres.

However, it will remain open during preparations for the United Kingdom leaving the EU with half the current 1,300 staff remaining there for two more years.

James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, said: “It is still not ideal that Alexandra House is closing its doors at all.

“However, I welcome the news that HM Revenue and Customs has extended its stay in Southend for an extra two years.

“This means that people working in Customs, IT and teams associated with Brexit work in Southend will continue to work locally until the end of 2022.

“As such, it allows a longer period of transition before Alexandra House closes its doors for good.”

The HMRC programme will involve the closure of 170 offices country-wide, with staff moving to 13 regional “super sites”.

The eastern regional site will be at Stratford in east London and will open in 2021 to accommodate up to 7,000 employees.

Andy Lord, vice president of the Southend Branch of the PCS union, said: “It is partially good news, but not for everyone.

“Those remaining in the building until closure have no absolute guarantee there will be a job for them in Stratford because a large number of them are IT specialists who won’t be based in Stratford but to others sites in the UK.

“The remaining staff will ensure customs IT systems and legal requirements are in place going forward.

“They will ensure we have a proper IT system in place when we leave the European Union. We will have new customs arrangements with the EU and we will be involved in free trade agreements and tariffs over the next 12 to 18 months.”

A HMRC spokesman said: “HMRC is transforming into a more efficient, higher-skilled organisation. We now plan to keep Alexander House open until December 2022. Some of our critical customs and IT work is delivered in Southend, and we think keeping it open for longer is the best way of supporting EU Exit work.”