Prittlebrook Industrial Estate could be developed (From Echo)

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26 acres up for sale off Manners Way

5:10pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Southend By Stephen Hackwell

Prittlebrook Industrial Estate could be developed

A HUGE site in the heart of Southend is on offer to developers.

The Prittlebrook industrial estate and neighbouring playing fields, one of the largest areas of land to become available in the town, has been placed on the market by owner Aviva Investors.

Experts believe the 26-acre site, off Priory Crescent and Manners Way, could be used for a new business park, or even a massive housing estate.

However, the plans have cast doubt over the future of the Ekco Sports and Social Club, which has called almost a third of the land its home for more than 80 years.

John Lamb, the Tory councillor responsible for regeneration at Southend Council, said he was keen on a new development.

He said: “I think the industrial estate would make an ideal business park.

“It is close to the airport, close to the A127 and it is exactly the sort of development we want in that part of the town.

Lying between Southend Airport and the town centre, and almost directly off the A127, the Aviva site could be attractive to both business and housing developers.

Aviva wants to sell the land at an informal auction, with the highest bidder walking away with the title deeds, regardless of their intentions for the land.

However, any proposals would have to be approved by the council before it could be developed.

The joint area action plan, a blueprint drawn up by Southend Council and Rochford District Council for the land around the airport, foresees more than 100,000sqm of new business parks.

The document is designed to smooth the way for future planning applications from private companies, by setting out what would be acceptable and what would not.

The Aviva site is about 105,000sqm, and is barely a mile from the airport.

However, the proximity to the A127 and Prittlewell railway station could also prove tempting to house builders looking to create family homes.

A spokesman for Aviva’s estate agent, Kemsley, said: “The site is being sold clear of industrial buildings so as to be ready for complete redevelopment.

“It is located in a designated employment area and is suitable for a variety of uses, subject to planning consent.”

However Mr Lamb said: “Housing would not be my choice.

“We do need new homes, and particularly family homes, but that site is prime business land because of its location.

“I would not like to miss that opportunity.”

Comments(17)

SARFENDMAN says...
8:26am Thu 2 Feb 12

What gets me in all these wonderous proposals is no one seems to to up the issues with appaling lack of road infrastructure. All the roads are at capacity and beyond and rather like the Hall Rd, Rochford planned development, where does the extra generated traffic go?