THE new 11-storey student accommodation block for the University of Essex, in London Road, Southend, is well on track for its scheduled opening in September next year.

The building, on the old South East Essex College site, will provide homes for 561 students, as well as a new underground car park which will be run by Southend Council.

It is intended this will serve as a partial replacement for the Farringdon multi-storey car park, which is earmarked for demolition to make way for a new Southend central library and extensions to both the college and the university campus.