Housing pipeline presents four development sites to cabinet

July 27, 2021

Councillors will today discuss the development of four potential housing development sites by PSP Southend LLP, the public/private partnership set up to deliver housing on publicly-owned land.

The PSP (Public Sector Plc) Southend LLP report was presented to the cabinet yesterday (27 July) asked councillors to note that a business plan will be coming forward to Shareholder Board, to discuss the four sites identified being progressed by PSP Southend LLP and recommends continuing to identify other possible development sites to provide a future development pipeline for the LLP.

The report also notes that £5million set aside from the capital programme for the delivery of a project in Ilfracombe Avenue, is no longer required as the proposed development on that site will be funded differently.

Cllr Ian Gilbert, leader of the council with a responsibility for housing strategy, said: “The report brings the objectives of the individual projects together, and makes sure we are delivering what we collectively set out to.

“This report outlines the work already successfully achieved, whilst highlighting the next areas for consideration. This is an especially important piece of work considering the need to provide more good quality family housing for local people.”

A number of sites have already been successfully delivered by PSP Southend LLP, with new developments on the former Hinguar Primary School, Saxon Lodge and the nursery and housing at Constable Way, all of which are in Shoebury.

Now the LLP is seeking agreement from Cabinet to progress with sites at the former Futures High School, to continue to progress with the site on Ilfracombe Avenue on a different basis and to move ahead with feasibility work for Thorpedene Campus and land near Brendon Way, all for housing.

Cllr Gilbert added: “The LLP was set up to provide an additional option to help the council progress mid-sized development sites, allowing council colleagues to focus on the HRA development programme, acquisitions programme and the larger regeneration schemes currently at different stages across the Borough, such as Better Queensway.

“It is exciting to see that officers and the LLP have identified a further four sites for us to discuss at cabinet and I hope we are able to progress to the next stage of the process. We must continue maintaining our housing delivery across different sites and of different types to meet the market demand, and ease overall housing targets. Of course, it goes without saying that investment in housing also leads to local employment which is needed more than ever for the local economy as we start to recover from the pandemic.”

The full report can be found on the Southend-on-Sea Borough Council website.