Plans to demolish disused garages and replace them with new homes and flats have been given the go ahead.

Southend Council will construct five houses and 16 flats on land off Eagle Way in Shoebury after planning experts gave the scheme the green light.

It will see 46 new car parking spaces made available in the area, although most of these will go to residents of the new homes.

The existing on-site garages will be demolished after falling into disrepair in recent years.

The application outlining the proposals states the costs of repairs and ongoing maintenance costs would be “excessive” compared to the potential income brought in by the new homes.

It added: “The empty garages are being vandalised and the areas have become a centre for antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping.

Echo: How the five new houses will lookHow the five new houses will look

“Many residents are deterred from using the garages because of their location and lack of security and lighting.”

The five houses will all consist of three-bedrooms, while the new flats will be made up of one and two bedrooms across three floors.

Bosses say the new buildings will be designed to match the others on the estate.

All of the homes will be allocated as social housing, with each one offered up on a rental basis.

Some will be run by housing association, South Essex Homes.

The blueprints for the scheme adds the new homes will help to “create safer communities whilst reducing crime and creating aesthetically pleasing developments”.

It adds the homes planned for Eagle Way will be some of the first new council built homes in almost 25 years.

Several objections were submitted against the proposals, such as loss of parking, loss of privacy and noise and disturbance.

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But the planning officer ruling on the plans rejected the concerns, adding they did not provide a reasonable basis for refusal.

In the officer’s report, they added: “The proposal would provide an acceptable standard of accommodation for future occupiers, have an acceptable impact on the amenities of neighbouring occupiers and an acceptable impact on the character and appearance of the application site, street scene and the locality more widely.

“There would be no materially adverse traffic, parking or highways impacts caused by the proposed development.”