COUNCIL offices could be moved to the High Street as talks get under way for parts of the Civic Centre to be converted into flats.

Southend Council bought the Victoria shopping centre back in December for £10million.

The council has now revealed it could be moving into the centre - in addition to touting plans for a market place and art studios.

It comes as Southend Hospital plans a new blood-testing unit to open in the shopping centre.

This could, in turn, mean parts of Southend Civic Centre in Victoria Avenue could be turned into flats.

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Victoria Avenue is already hotbed of activity as developers build new homes.

Speaking of the Victoria centre, deputy leader Ron Woodley said: “I think the plan is to have a bit more of a mixed use. They’re still drawing up plans.

“There could be a market place there and art studios.

“We’re also looking at moving more of the work done by the council in the Civic Centre over to the Victoria Centre and developing more homes there.

“The more homes we build the better for our homeless and those looking for affordable housing.

“We’ve got the council chamber so that could still stay but the 13-storey block could be converted into homes.”

Mr Woodley said that the potential move of council offices has come off the back of the pandemic.

He added: “I think that what the pandemic has taught us is that we don’t have to be in one office.

“I think that we should take this opportunity.

“There’s no point having empty shops.

“The regeneration team is looking at these sorts of things for there.

“It’s very important we get this right because we have one chance at this.”