Southend-on-Sea Borough Council wished to examine options to regenerate the Queensway area of the town, situated next the Southend Victoria station. The Council wished to create a new residential-led development made up of high-quality housing, a better living environment and a place for people to live, socialise and play.
The aspiration of the Council was to solve some of the major issues in this failing estate and to reconnect the community across the site separated by a major road and improve access to the town centre, seafront, jobs and shops, helping to boost the local economy.
We were brought in by the Council initially to examine the options to bring forward this challenging scheme. This led to a series of workshops and a detailed options appraisal to examine the most appropriate approach to deliver the Council’s aspirations whilst balancing the risk and reward that the Council would be exposed to. Having reviewed the options to self develop the site and a variety of other approaches this led to the conclusion that a joint venture partnership to fund, develop and manage the site for the next 30 years was the most appropriate solution.
Once this option was selected we advised the Council on developing the approach, testing it with the market and ultimately procuring a partner for the scheme. As part of this role we have:
Our work has enabled the Council to move the project forward at each stage with confidence in the approach and the financial viability. We have supported the Council through the competitive dialogue process which will deliver a preferred partner for the scheme by early 2019.
Andy Grant
Project Director