7:40am Friday 19th March 2010
By John Geoghegan
NEW homes, shops and green spaces are among the ideas proposed for a massive redevelopment of Victoria Avenue in Southend.
The proposals to replace the road’s 1960s office blocks, many of them empty, have been revealed by regeneration company Renaissance Southend.
The sketches show how the entire area could be transformed into a mix of housing, shops and new offices.
At the moment, Renaissance Southend and Southend Council want to gauge the reaction of residents and traders before drawing up more specific plans later this year.
Town centre homes and small shops to support the people living there are among the key ideas. The suggested makeover involves grass and trees along Victoria Avenue and getting rid of some of the empty and ugly office blocks.
David Balcombe, Renaissance Southend project manager who drew up the sketches, said: “We want to introduce a discussion with people who live and work in the area about what their ideas and aspirations are for the regeneration of the road.
“People must understand the area needs to change.
“There are some good buildings there, but we want to get rid of the less attractive and commercially unviable buildings.”
Buildings which will definitely stay, include the Civic Centre, the courthouse and Alexander House, the Revenue and Customs building. The new buildings would be made of low-carbon materials, with solar panels and vegetation on the roofs and eco-friendly drainage system.
There would be routes for pedestrians and cyclists with the aim of minimising short journeys by car.
One of the ideas is to give a makeover to Civic Square which would have more trees and grass planted there and possibly a cycle hire facility at the bus stop.
Mr Balcombe said there are no numbers for housing at this stage and big shops would be unlikely because the shopping areas of London Road and the High Street are nearby.
Renaissance Southend chairman Theo Steel said: “It grieves me to see buildings deteriorating and doing nothing. Victoria Avenue is the entrance to the town. I would like to see it looking and feeling more vibrant.
“With the current economic climate, it’s certainly a challenge. Some of the buildings are where people are working. We want a delicate balance between improving the environment and keeping employment in the town.”
Using the feedback from residents, Renaissance Southend will draw up provisional plans which will go to the council for approval before another round of consultation in the autumn.
l AN exhibition will be unveiled at a public consultation to be held at the Victoria Shopping Centre in the High Street from today until Tuesday, March 30, opening from 10am until 4pm.
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