Posted 20/03/2020
Plans For Transformation Of Queensway Estate Revealed By Porter’s Place LLP
Ambitious plans to transform the Queensway Estate into a vibrant new place have been revealed by Porters Place Southend-on-Sea LLP, the joint venture between Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Swan Housing Association.
The revised vision revealed by the LLP today, is in response to clear direction received from residents and local stakeholders during the first round of consultation in October 2019. The new plans are for approximately 1,700 new homes, including new homes for secure tenants currently living on the estate, plus new additional affordable housing for Southend-on-Sea and private sale homes for local buyers.
In addition to these much-needed new homes, central to the joint venture's plans are high- quality public spaces, including improved connections to and from Southend Victoria train station and new green spaces for residents and visitors to Southend to use, including a vibrant new park with areas for users of all ages to enjoy.
These spaces will transform the Queensway area from an isolated estate into a new gateway into central Southend-on-Sea, with the creation of a new community creating new footfall to support the High Street and wider area.
A new central community concierge will provide support and security for residents, whilst the new high quality, secure by design homes will also be efficient to live in and run, with plenty of storage for residents. The scheme also proposes flexible space for a range of commercial and business space. This will help to boost local creativity, employment and investment. It will see the four lane road brought to grade with new trees and greenery along the route, providing new safe pedestrian crossings, whilst maintaining traffic flows - all contributing to Southend-on-Sea's 2050 ambition to be a truly Green City.
Porters Place LLP have released stunning indicative images of what the transformed Queensway could look like and are now giving local people the chance to have their say on the emerging plans for the project through a range of events over the coming weeks including specially hosted events for residents, councillors and the business and voluntary sectors. Full details of the events planned and also the exhibition boards are available at wwww.betterqueensway.co.uk
Geoff Pearce, Chair of the Porters Place Southend-on-Sea LLP Board and Executive Director of Regeneration and Development at Swan Housing, Association said:
"I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in this next round of consultation and help us develop a masterplan for a Better Queensway that meets the needs of local people and the wider community - which is what this major investment in Southend is about first and foremost.
"We have listened closely to the priorities identified during the first round of consultation - the highest priority was given to high quality new homes, with attractive, secure community spaces including new public areas for everyone from children to older people to safely enjoy together with new safe crossings to end the severance of the estate from the town centre and surrounding areas.
"The proposed inclusion of a new Plaza from Southend Victoria Station, leading through vibrant parks into the town centre and onto the seafront will also transform the experience of both residents and visitors to this part of Southend, whist bringing in new investment in flexible commercial, employment and creative spaces and introducing new residents who will in turn invest locally in the economy and contribute to a vibrant and successful Southend-on-Sea."
The public exhibitions will take place on:
- Thursday 20 February from 3pm-7pm at All Saints Church, 1 Sutton Road, SS2 5PA
- Wednesday 26 February from 3pm-6pm at The Storehouse, 9 Coleman Street, SS2 5AW
More information on the development of the Queensway Estate can be found at betterqueensway.co.uk