MORE homes and fewer shops are needed to return Southend High Street to its glory days, says a campaigner.

Calls are being made to convert the “beautiful” buildings into homes, and carve up large stores to create smaller businesses and increase footfall.

It comes after plans were submitted to convert Miss Selfridge, in the High Street, into two smaller shops and build five flats and a three storey home of multiple occupancy behind the store.

Shopper Lindsay Rudd said the area needs help without being changed drastically.

The 58-year-old from Southend said: “I went to the high street the other day and there’s nothing there and so few shops now.

“I think they should condense the shops down and have the stores at one end and homes at the other.

“There are some beautiful buildings and styles of architecture in the high street which will work well as homes.

“I wouldn’t like to see anything be demolished or change too much.

“I think having more homes will help get more people into the town centre and high street.”

She said such large stores are not needed, with smaller ones the way forward.

However, it would need to be within Covid-19 social distancing rules to have smaller shops.

It comes as developers are eyeing up other high street sites for homes.

Proposals were also revealed for four flats and shops space at KFC, High Street, Southend.

However, other plans for five flats and a four bedroom home of multiple occupancy at Game in the High Street were blocked by the council.

Ian Gilbert, Labour leader of Southend Council, also agreed a new use is necessary to keep Southend High Street alive.

He said: “I am in favour of bringing empty shops into use and I also think it’d be good to reduce the size of shops too.

“We need to be looking at subdividing up the stores but I am less sure about having lots of homes of multiple occupancy in the town centre.

“Having more homes in the town centre will help to increase footfall and it will create a nice environment and make people safer.

“We need a new mixed use for our high street to help make it as vibrant as possible.”

Southend Council is due to make a decision on the plans for Miss Selfridge by Friday May 21.