New planters, lighting columns and benches are being installed at the town centre end of London Road as part of a project to improve access and create a more attractive gateway to the town.
 
The work is part of the Southend Central Area Transport Scheme (S-CATS) and follows the reconfiguration of the highway and parking of London Road between Queensway and College Way as well as the introduction of new electric vehicle charging points.
 
A total of eight Corten steel lighting columns, which are designed to give a rust effect, were erected earlier this week together with seven complementary planters and seven benches. The planters will be planted with ivy within the next few weeks.
 
The landscaping scheme was the result of consultation with local businesses and marks the end of the first phase work along this stretch of London Road.
​
Later phases of the project will focus on improving the section of London Road (from College Way to Victoria Circus) and then improving the Victoria Circus public area itself.
 
Cllr Andrew Moring, cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “I’m pleased to see work progressing on the landscaping of this important gateway to the town. The clever design allows us to introduce greenery to an area where planting trees into the ground was not an option due to the large number of pipes and cables beneath the road, as well as introducing attractive new lighting and seating.
 
“I’d like to thank all the local businesses who fed into the final design by sharing their ideas.”
 
Southend Central Area Transport Scheme (S-CATS) is a £7m project is being fully funded by the Department for Transport’s Local Growth Fund through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).
 
The first phase of S-CATS was completed in 2017 with £1m worth junction improvements on Victoria Avenue (Great Eastern, Carnarvon Road and East Street/West Street).
 
Phase 2 (just completed) is a £2m public realm and streetscape improvement scheme along London Road (between Queensway and College Way through to Elmer Avenue) to make this an attractive gateway to Southend High Street.
 
Later phases of the project will focus on improving the section of London Road (from College Way to Victoria Circus) and then improving the Victoria Circus itself. A much wider stakeholder engagement process is planned to develop design options for these phases.

Southend Council is set to approve the selection of Swan Housing Association as its preferred bidder for the major transformation of the Queensway area in central Southend.
 
Councillors will discuss the recommendation next week (Tuesday 12th February) and approve the setting up of a joint venture LLP between the Council and Swan that would enable collective delivery of the Better Queensway scheme.
 
The council started the procurement process back in March 2018. Several companies went through various stages of the detailed process, with Swan coming through the robust procurement process as preferred bidder.
 
The report details how their tender has met the requirements laid down by the council, including building more than 441 affordable homes on the site and how Swan will help to deliver not only the regeneration but also manage it for the long term.
 
Swan’s example scheme developed for the purposes of the procurement process includes approximately 1,600 new homes, of which over 500 will be affordable. The example scheme also maintains four lanes of traffic on Queensway, new green spaces and improved walking and cycling space, and space to play. It also incorporates a community fund and improvements to energy and sustainability.
 
If approved by Swan’s Board, the council’s cabinet and Full Council on 21 February, the next steps would be to work towards awarding the contract in the spring. Following the award of the contract, the joint venture would be formally created and a full masterplan prepared for the site. This will involve further consultation with residents, business and other key stakeholders, and submission for planning approval in 2020.
 
Councillor James Courtenay, cabinet member for growth, says: “Better Queensway is the biggest regeneration project we are undertaking in a generation and will seek to transform this vital area right in the centre of our town, delivering better housing, better living and a better place for both the current residents and those that will make central Southend their home in the future. This regeneration will help make this area a key entrance into our town centre and connect what will be a thriving new community with it and also help us to deliver a key part of our resident led ambition for 2050.

“We are delighted to recommend Swan Housing, an excellent organisation with great values, commitment to the community and vast knowledge and experience of the local area, as our preferred bidder.
 
“Alongside meeting all the key requirements for the project, they also offer far much more than that, including access to their other properties from across Essex and London.
 
“This is really just the beginning and there is much more work to be done. We are now collectively focused on the next stages, including contract award and then working with all range of stakeholders, including residents and businesses to prepare a masterplan for submission for planning approval.”
 
John Synnuck, CEO of Swan Housing Association commented: “We are delighted to have been selected by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council as “Preferred Bidder” for the regeneration of Queensway.  We’ve been taking on complex regenerations just like this for the last 25 years and our award-winning schemes show that we can not only build high quality homes of all tenures but also fantastic public realm including green spaces; we can tackle complex road and infrastructure challenges; and put in the commercial space and facilities needed to create successful mixed-use regenerations.
 
“I’d like to say to all the residents and local stakeholders at Queensway, that we are looking forward to working with you to develop a masterplan for Queensway which will make it a great place to live and work and a place where everyone in Southend wants to go. 
 
“Together with our joint venture partner, Southend-on Sea Borough Council, we will work with you to transform Queensway from an isolated, and aging estate into a thriving community right in the centre of Southend.  We’re experts at supporting residents and local stakeholders through regenerations and we will be there every step of the way, with Southend and South Essex Homes, to support you."

​More than £35m of new projects are being put forward by Southend Council as part of its draft capital budget proposals for 2019/20.

In addition to existing schemes already ongoing or planned, this would give the council a capital investment programme of £177m for the next four year period, including over £18m of investment into the Pier, £26.3m investment into improving roads and pavements, £3m for community safety improvements and £1.2m on parks and open spaces.

An additional £36.5m worth of new projects are also included in the draft programme, but will be subject to external funding and detailed and viable business cases being prepared and approved, including up to £20m for commercial property purchases over the next three years, £10.5m for a new pavilion deck on the end of the pier and £1m for the refurbishment of the Cliffs Pavilion in summer 2020.

The capital budget, which is separate to the council’s day to day revenue budget, is used to make one-off investments in things like regeneration and housing projects, and to carry out essential improvements to leisure and cultural facilities and ICT systems. Funding is raised from a mixture of external funding, reserves and borrowing.

The proposals for new projects include £3.25m over the next two years to replace ageing Pier trains which were introduced in 1986 with a predicted 20 year lifespan and an additional £3m over three years to fix more pavements and roads.

Safety measures are also a big new investment, with a further £2m proposed to continue to upgrade the borough’s CCTV system and install new cameras in key locations following a recent consultation.

A new children’s residential care home, new public toilet provision, better traffic management and car park improvements are some of the other projects highlighted for new investment in the draft budget.

Over £20m is also being added to the capital programme from 2021 to 2024 for investment in the council housing stock, which will be funded through the housing revenue account (HRA).

Cllr James Courtenay, Deputy Leader of the Council, says: “Capital and revenue budgets are two entirely different things and we have a duty to fund essential things like ensuring we can look after our most vulnerable residents, and also ensure that facilities like the Pier and Cliffs Pavilion, which are a source of pride and joy for so many, are invested in and safeguarded for the future. Financially we have tightened our belts, but this must not be to the detriment of our future vision for Southend-on-Sea and our plans must remain bold and ambitious.

“The resident and stakeholder led ambition document Southend 2050, has helped us identify the type of town our residents and stakeholders want to see. With feedback from more than 35,000 people, it helps us to focus both on the work that is needed now, but also over the next few years, to help make those ambitions a reality.

“This can be seen with more investment in things that are important to people in the here and now, including fixing more roads and pavements, investing in more public toilet provision in the seafront area, and ensuring our housing stock is up to decent homes standard, but also looking to the future with investment in the Pier and the Bell junction for example.

“The proposals in this draft capital budget will make a real difference to important local facilities and infrastructure and shows that we are open for business and here to do the very best for local people and businesses.”

If all external funding and viable business cases are approved, then the capital investment programme could be £229m for the period of 2019/20 to 2023/24.

Other investment within the capital programme and already allocated includes £12.7m for the ongoing secondary schools expansion programme, £24.8m for the continued development of Airport Business Park Southend, £11.5m for the delivery of a new 60 bedroom care facility and day centre and £1.3m for the continued construction of  affordable housing on housing land.

There will also be a business and voluntary sector budget consultation event on Thursday 17 January at Holiday Inn, Eastwoodbury Crescent starting at 8.30am (registration from 7.30am). This will give local businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to hear an insight of the 2019/20 budget.

Southend Council is set to campaign for an outer relief road to the east of the borough, another river crossing to the east of the Lower Thames Crossing, and for the Crossrail line to be extended to Southend.
 
The ambitious demands form part of a draft five-year plan (2019-2023) which will be discussed by the council’s cabinet on November 6th.
 
The draft plan has been drawn up on the back of a major public engagement programme called ‘Southend 2050 – be part of the conversation’ that started in spring 2018.
 
Over 35,000 people were reached through the work, with 4,000 people actively taking part and 55 events taking place.
 
This work has identified the sort of place residents and stakeholders want Southend-on-Sea to be, and the work needed now and over the next five years (to 2023) to help make that happen. The roadmap also identifies key milestones and projects that will be delivered up to 2023.

Other milestones in the draft plan include the first tenant moving into Airport Business Park Southend by 2020, the start of the Better Queensway regeneration scheme in the same year, the opening of the new Pier pavilion in 2021, and the completion of the Airport Business Park by 2023.
 
The milestones also highlight that a renewed partnership with the voluntary and community sector is a key aspiration for 2019, as is working with schools and academy trusts to secure improvements in underperforming schools.
 
Cllr James Courtenay, Deputy Leader of the Council, says: “Our draft five-year plan for the borough demonstrates a clear ambition and clear direction of what we want to do and what we want to achieve as a council and also as a place.
 
“We know that Southend-on-Sea, and south Essex as a whole, are going to grow in the future, and we are working with councils across south Essex on that.  It will bring numerous economic and social benefits to the area. 
 
“However, we are also adamant that this must be infrastructure led and that is why we are planning to campaign for a road to the east and aim to secure funding for it by 2023, call for Crossrail to be extended to Southend-on-Sea and also help make the case for a further river crossing to the east of the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.”
 
Cllr John Lamb, Leader of the Council, added: “I am delighted to present this plan for the future of our Borough. This is truly a resident and stakeholder led piece of work, and I want to thank each and every person who has got involved.
 
“Our ambition for the Borough and our draft five-year plan has come directly from what local people, businesses and stakeholders have told us they want.
 
“I want to be clear that this isn’t about the year 2050, but it is about planning for the future whilst also dealing with the challenges and issues we face today, tomorrow and over the next five years.
 
“Planning ahead and having an ambition is an essential part of any successful business or place.
 
“Our draft ambition and five-year roadmap has emerged from detailed engagement with a cross section of the community and helped us to identify what we want to achieve as a place, and how we deliver that collectively with our public sector partners, local residents and businesses.
 
“It has told us clearly what is important to local people and it is already helping us to deal with the here and now too.
 
“The excellent and extensive engagement work we have done has helped us to clearly focus on what needs to be done now and into the future to ensure that we achieve our outcomes for the community.”
 
Cabinet are being asked to approve the draft documents and refer them to all three November scrutiny committees for further comments before consideration by a special cabinet on 4th December and then Full Council on 13th December.
 
The draft documents can be read here (agenda item 4).

Southend Council has successfully bid for £15m of Government funding to help make the Better Queensway project a reality.
 
The award from the Housing Infrastructure Fund is the third largest single allocation of 134 awards made across the country, and is one of thirteen across the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) area that will receive a share of more than £82m.
 
The funding is being allocated to areas to help get housing projects off the ground and fund infrastructure projects linked to them. In Southend-on-Sea’s case the funding will be used to carry out the proposed highways changes as part of the overall redevelopment.
 
Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy, says: “This is fantastic news for all involved.  Once again we continue to punch above our weight when it comes to making the case for and securing national funding.
 
“This funding would allow us to fully deliver the ambitious proposals that we have for the Queensway site and the associated infrastructure required in partnership with the private sector. We want a development made up of high quality housing, a better living environment and a better place for people to enjoy and this funding will help us to realise that ambition.
 
“The fact we have secured the second largest allocation out of 134 bids being funded highlights the hard work and dedication of our officer team and partners, but also the confidence in our plans and in Southend-on-Sea as an investment location.”
 
The council’s bid was endorsed by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and the Opportunity South Essex Board.
 
Christian Brodie, Chairman of SELEP, said: “Each of the 13 schemes, championed by the respective council's and endorsed by SELEP, will make an important contribution to the delivery of new homes.
 
“Having secured nearly £1 in every £10 of the £866m earmarked to support local housing projects, it clearly shows the Government recognises the role our area can play in helping to fix the broken housing market.”
 
A detailed report on the Better Queensway project will be presented to the council’s cabinet on Tuesday 13 February, including an update on the public consultation and the next steps to find a joint venture partner.


​

The council has unveiled its draft capital budget for April 2018 onwards, with around £20m proposed for new and existing projects up to March 2020.

This additional investment means that, if approved, some £185m of capital investments will made into the Borough over the next four years.

It is also proposed that a further £2.7m of council capital funding is set aside towards developing ‘The Forum II’, an educational, cultural and business space for the digital, cultural and creative industries. This extension to The Forum will, subject to relevant approvals, be majority-funded by Local Growth Funding and South Essex College.

The capital budget, which is separate to the council’s reducing revenue budget, is a rolling budget used to make one-off investments in things like regeneration and housing projects, and to carry out essential improvements to leisure and cultural facilities and ICT systems for example. Funding is raised from a mix of external funding, reserves and borrowing.

Proposed new investment includes:

• Adding a further £10m to the current budget for investment in commercial property. As central Government funding reduces, councils must become financially self-sustaining. Continuing to build a commercial investment portfolio will help build long-term income streams to help fund services. The fund will also be used to secure housing for temporary accommodation. The funds will only be spent if and when appropriate opportunities arise.
• £3.7m on highways schemes, including:

£2.25m for flood prevention works, with half of this coming from external sources – this will see new underground tanks, bunding and increased gulley capacity created on the central seafront to deal with surface water flooding that runs from Queensway down to the central seafront in heavy rainfall. A pumping station and tank storage will also be created to pump out trunk sewers around Hartington Road against high tides, reducing flood risk in the area.

£350,000 to improve the condition of pavements around existing trees.

£325,000 to stabilise an area of emerging cliff slip close to Manor Road, to protect the public footway, coastal road and support of private properties.

£300,000 to undertake improvements to Shoebury Common North, including the creation of a new children’s play area, new paths, new seating and outdoor fitness equipment.

£250,000 to create coach parking and drop-off facilities to accommodate visitors to the seafront.

£200,000 to develop and improve car parking signage for the whole Borough and introduce new signage for the seafront car parks and potential park and ride sites.

• £1m for fire improvement works that become necessary due to any national changes to building regulations and compliance, and £500,000 for planned refurbishment to council property.
• £925,000 for essential works at our theatres and leisure centres.
• £875,000 to convert the former Beecroft Art Gallery in Station Road, Westcliff-on-Sea to 20 artist studios for rent. The building is owned by the Beecroft Art Trust and this project will largely be funded through £575,000 from Arts Council England and other external funding.
• £400,000 to create a small number of local residential care places for children.  This will enable children to stay near their communities, improve their life chances and reduce the number of costly out of borough placements saving £80,000 per year.
• £750,000 to get the Better Queensway project to the next stage of development.
• £500,000 to implement security measures required due to current national threat levels, focused on high footfall areas such as the seafront.

Cllr John Lamb, Leader of the Council, says: “Whilst it may seem unusual to see major investments at the same time as we are highlighting our ever reducing central funding and revenue budgets, we must remain bold, ambitious and invest in our Borough to ensure that we advance and prosper into the future.

“Capital and revenue budgets are two separate things, and we must continue to fund essential things like secondary school places, ensuring that our famous Pier is safeguarded, maintained and improved and investing in plans to look after our elderly and vulnerable through developing new facilities which we are already doing through money already allocated.

“These new projects will allow us to do things like build a commercial property portfolio to give us long-term income streams in the future, carry out important flood prevention works in the central seafront area, carry out fire improvement works where necessary and keep all our buildings up to the standard that local people rightly expect.

“We are also proposing significant new investment in a number of highways projects, and ensuring that we remain a modern business and workforce, by investing in ICT and software improvements.

“Wherever possible these projects will bring income into the council or just must be done.  Despite the austere times this gives us an impressive capital budget to make a difference to important local facilities and infrastructure and shows that we are open for business and here to do the very best for local people and businesses.”
​
The new investment would take the approved capital programme for 2018/19 to 2021/22 to £185m of which the level of external funding to support this investment will be £72m. For 2018/19 alone, the investment in the Borough will be £88m.

A key planning document that will guide development of central Southend and the central seafront over the next five years has been given the go-ahead by a government planning inspector.
 
The Southend Central Area Action Plan sets out proposed planning policies by the Council for managing development and assessing planning applications in Southend Central Area through to 2021.
 
The Council has received the final report from the Inspector, Mr Mike Fox, who has carried out the independent examination of the Southend Central Area Action Plan. He issued the report following the examination hearing sessions that were held in May 2017 and after considering the representations that were made on the proposed modifications to the plan.
 
The Inspector recommends a number of proposed modifications to the draft – mostly proposed by the Council during the examination – and concluded that the SCAAP “provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the Central Area.”
 
This means that, if and when formally adopted by Southend Council, it will become part of the development plan for Southend.

Cllr Mark Flewitt, Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Sustainability, welcomed the inspector’s findings. He said: “I am delighted that the Planning Inspector has agreed with the soundness of this key document that will play a critical role in shaping future development in the town centre and central seafront.
 
“It has taken many years to reach this stage and we have listened carefully and responded to the differing views of local people and businesses throughout the process.
 
“We believe that, once adopted, the SCAAP will facilitate the new growth, housing, jobs and infrastructure that the Borough needs in a way that is sustainable and safeguards the local environment.
 
“The next step will be for the Council to formally adopt the SCAAP at our Full Council meeting in February, after which we can start using it.”
 
The full report from the Planning Inspector, along with the agreed modifications, can be found here: www.southend.gov.uk/scaap

Public consultation on proposals for regenerating the Queensway area in central Southend opens today, with members of the local community invited to have their say.
 
Southend Council is developing proposals to regenerate the Queensway area, creating a new residential-led development made up of high quality housing, commercial space, improved public areas and a new road network.
 
The Better Queensway scheme, that is aimed at making life better for both existing and new residents, will transform the site into a mixed new community of around 1,300 new homes, which will include a minimum of 441 affordable homes alongside a range of other housing options.
 
The proposals will also include making changes to the road network that will benefit transport and access in the area with the aim of reconnecting communities separated by the Queensway road and improving access to the town centre, seafront, jobs and shops, helping to boost the local economy.
 
More details on the proposals will be unveiled at the public consultation starting today, including two public exhibitions where Southend-on-Sea Borough Council welcomes the community to drop in, meet the project team and give feedback. The exhibitions will be held on:
​

• Wednesday 8 November 2017 – drop-in any time between 2pm and 8pm in the Deeping Meeting Room, The Forum Southend, Elmer Square, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1NS;
• Thursday 16 November 2017 - drop-in any time between 2pm and 8pm in the Deeping Meeting Room, The Forum Southend, Elmer Square, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1NS.

 
Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy, said: “Better Queensway is the biggest, most ambitious regeneration project in the local area and that’s why we are committed to involving the community of Southend-on-Sea at this early stage. We want to hear what people think of the initial proposals before we seek a development partner next year and further develop the plans. We hope you can join us at our public exhibitions to have your say.”
 
For more information, visit www.betterqueensway.co.uk

Make Southend Sparkle are offering small grants to help local groups make Southend-on-Sea a cleaner, greener and more attractive place in which to live, work and visit.
 
The scheme is ready to grant funding for any group that is aiming to make a difference locally by helping make their part of the borough clean and well-kept.
 
Grants will be given to up to 20 different projects that offer to breathe some fresh air in the local community. This can vary between painting the front of building overlooking the street to revitalising an underused community garden.
 
Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy, said: “I am thrilled that we are able to offer this grants scheme to the local community. Anyone that is prepared to take time out to help make the town they live in more attractive, deserve some funding to support them.
 
“We are confident this scheme will make a difference, not only to the residents, but to visitors who will hopefully see Southend as a clean, green place that they want to come back to time and again.”
 
Grants of up to £500 are available. Applications will be accepted from charities, voluntary groups, community groups, schools, uniformed children’s groups (e.g. Guide or Scout Associations,   Boys or Girls Brigade), churches or faith groups or any other constituted organisation.
 
For more information on the scheme, to apply for funding or to see if your group qualify for a grant, please visit http://www.southend.gov.uk/mssgrant

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has made an offer to buy the former gasworks site on Southend seafront.
 
The derelict land, which has blighted the golden mile for a number of years, provides the council with a ‘unique opportunity’ to look at future development opportunities for what is a prime investment site.
 
Cllr John Lamb, Leader of the Council, says: “This is a unique opportunity to buy a prime seafront site that has the potential to offer strategic and regeneration benefits to the Council and the seafront area particularly for future development opportunities and car parking.

“This site has been a blot on the landscape for many years now, so we have made a bid, which if successful would give us the opportunity to step in, regenerate and greatly improve the appearance of the site, deal with the remediation and put the land to positive use.”
 
The 3.5 acre prime seafront site was previously owned by Robert Leonard Estates who secured planning permission for a substantial residential, commercial and hotel development. However works were never commenced and the planning permission has expired.
 
Councillors considered a commercially sensitive report on the subject at Cabinet on Tuesday.

An ambitious 10-year blueprint to make Southend the number one coastal destination in England is to be considered.

Councillors are being asked to comment on the draft tourism strategy, titled “Destination Southend-on-Sea”, which has been authored by Southend Tourism Partnership working with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The document outlines how public and private sector partners across the borough should work together to further build upon the town’s thriving visitor economy, which supports 6,500 local jobs and attracts over six million annual visitors.
 
Key aims of the strategy include:

• Improving communications and marketing, to encourage more people to visit and longer stays.
• Infrastructure – making it easier for people to get into the town and move around different attractions once they are here. This will work alongside the Council’s emerging parking strategy to ensure parking supply and demand are effectively matched.
• Destination development – improving the quality of existing attractions and facilities, making the most of new developments coming online and maximising the opportunities presented within the Leigh-on-Sea and Shoeburyness Coastal Communities teams.
• Events and cultural tourism – further development of the town’s events programme throughout the year.
• Make Southend Sparkle – mobilising local citizens, businesses and volunteers to welcome and assist visitors to the town and act as champions for its visitor offer.

Key partners identified in the strategy include:

• Southend Tourism Partnership
• The Leigh Coastal Community Team
• The Shoeburyness Coastal Communities Team
• The Southend Business Investment District (BID
• Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Cllr Ann Holland, Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy, said: “This draft strategy presents a deliberately ambitious but achievable way forward for developing the Borough’s visitor economy, from Shoeburyness to Leigh-on-Sea, from our famous beaches to our award-winning parks and historical buildings.
 
“Southend was built on tourism and this strategy will position the resort for future generations, providing jobs, wealth and an attractive place for all to live, work and visit.”
 
Jacqui Dallimore, Chair of Southend Tourism Partnership, said: “This strategy sees Southend aspiring to be the best with a strong focus on delivery.
 
“Success will require willing participation by stakeholders who value the past but look to the future needs of our visitors and how our economy can be stronger with coordinated tourism activity at its heart.
 
Once reviewed by the Cabinet, the draft strategy will be further developed before being taken through the Council’s political cycle for adoption.
 
You can view the draft strategy in full here.

The process to select a partner to deliver the Better Queensway project with the Council will start this May, with a decision due by January 2018.  It is hoped that contracts will be signed by March 2018.
 
The updated news is part of a report to the council’s cabinet today (Tuesday 28th March 2017), which provides a detailed update on the work that has taken place since the last report in September 2016.

It makes a number of recommendations, and seeks approval to start the procurement process. The report focuses on agreeing the council’s expectations and ambitions for the project.
 
If agreed, these expectations will be set out clearly in procurement documents, ensure that they are delivered through a partnership with the private sector, and ensure that the rights and views of residents are considered and respected. Some of these expectations include:
 

• That a minimum of 441 affordable homes are included in the scheme
• That assured tenancies, containing the same terms and conditions as current secure tenancies will be offered to returning current council tenants
• That returning council tenants retain the ‘right to buy’ clause
• That a preference for 1:1 residential parking is included
• That the principle of a community fund is included to maximise the development and integration of the community

The report also confirms that the tower blocks will be demolished as part of the scheme.  As previously advised, initial demolition notices will be served at the same time as a resident offer handbook being distributed, that will make clear the options available to residents.
 
A preferred transport option has also been completed which will allow new traffic movements in and out of Short Street, a reconfigured Southchurch Road and widened Chichester Road and a realigned one-way link between Southchurch Road and Sutton Road.
 
Cabinet will also consider a Borough wide decant policy that will apply to the Better Queensway project, but also any other major regeneration projects in the future. The decant policy sets out the home loss and disturbance payments that residents will be eligible for. A local lettings policy has also been developed and will be considered at the same cabinet meeting. This will allow people who want to move away from the Queensway estate the right to apply to be on the housing register if they are not already, and give additional priority to those already on the list to help them move.
 
Cllr Ann Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council, says: “I am pleased that this project is progressing so well. It is the biggest and most ambitious and transformational regeneration project that the council has undertaken in recent memory and it vital that we follow due process and get this detailed work done before starting the procurement process.
 
“We are clear that residents will be offered new tenancies on the same terms and conditions as their current tenancies and will be offered assistance to move if they do not want to be part of the regenerated estate through a newly created local letting policy. A borough wide decant policy is also being discussed that will ensure the rights of residents are respected.
 
“The report also clearly sets out what we want from the project and what we expect from any partner, to ensure that we deliver our aims and ambitions for the current residents of the Queensway estate, the council, and the Borough as a whole.”