A FORMER bustling business area of Southend is partly resembling an abandoned ghost town.

Four of the nine office blocks in Victoria Avenue have an eerie feel about them as they are completely empty, with their doors locked shut.

No life can be found within Carby House, Heath House, Victoria House and Premier House.

Carby and Heath were earmarked for development back in 2004, but detailed plans about the development have failed to materialise.

The credit crisis is not helping and it seems it will be a while before developers breathe new life into the once thriving business centre.

The council has long wanted to see the area become an attractive and vibrant “gateway” to the town centre.

Transforming these two empty blocks is pivotal to that vision.

For years Heath House was the flagship of a thriving business community.

But a large question mark has remained over its future and redevelopment after insurance group C E Heath announced it would shut in the 1990s.

Since shutting its doors the building has been boarded-up to prevent further vandalism.

Anna Waite, Southend councillor responsible for planning, said: “I wish I knew what was happening. I haven’t heard anything from the developers for months.

“It is a great worry such prominent buildings are empty.

“I wish they would pull it down or get on with it.”

The economic situation is likely to put potential developers off sinking their money into other forlorn blocks.

John Lamb, Southend councillor responsible for regeneration, said the credit crunch was making it difficult to get developers involved.

Victoria House and Premier House, a former base for Southend JobCentre, are both empty.

After the JobCentre moved out, it has been a struggle to find a new occupier for the building.

Lambert Smith Hampton advertise “economical office space” at Victoria House, and while Premier House has had a facelift, new tenants have not moved in.

Senior surveyor Richard O’Connell, said: “There has been some interest, but no serious interest for the past few months.”

He added there was already a lot of high-quality office space in Southend.

Premier House, on the other hand, while empty is currently having a new entrance foyer fitted.

But it's not all gloom and doom

The Probation Service is at Skyline Plaza another block in Victoria Avenue, which boasts residential flats above, and a queue of people waiting for their appointment outside.

The Plaza is the most recent development to the office block skyline, approved in 2003. It consists of 21 flats.

Thamesgate House, with Victoria Court Bar and Fitness First, is thriving and is also home to Converso Contact Centre.

Behind the run down facade of Baryta House, solicitors, architects and accountants are busy at work, although the sixth, seventh and top two floors are listed as empty.

The two blocks closest to Victoria Circus are Alexander and Portcullis House, used by Customs and Excise. But their future is not set in stone either.

The service has pledged to cut jobs over the next few years.

About 400 job cuts could be made by 2011 which would spell the end for Portcullis House, as reported by the Echo earlier this year. Staffing levels at Alexander House would be trimmed from more than 2,000 to 1,600.