ALMOST 100 new flats in “Southend’s Mayfair” have been snapped up a year before they are completed.

Developers behind the transformation of the Heath and Carby house in Victoria Avenue say they have a waiting list for the remainder of the 240 flats being constructed in the former office blocks.

Once completed, the blocks will be renamed Beaumont Court and Richmond House. Residents will have a concierge service and modern gym.

The ground floor will have a range of retail units housing a cafe, bar and possibly a bakery along with a food store such as Waitrose Express and a boutique coffee shop, though developers Randall Watts say there will be no Costa Coffee type outlets.

Kerry Owen from Randall Watts said: “The building should be complete by next winter. It’s all going really well.

“At the moment there is temporary hoarding up but in a couple of weeks we should have the final wrap going up around the building with artwork showing the development.

“We will release phase three of the flats for sale soon.

“We’ve sold out of the previous phase.

“We’ve sold 97 flats so far and expect to sell the last few within a week. The next phase will range from £160,000 to £215,000. They are very popular.”

Other blocks being converted, include The Pinnacle and Baryta House.

Two planning applications are in for Victoria House which will be transformed into 47 flats.

APS Design Associates, a Southend-based architects, has been commissioned to design the extension as well as the refurbishment of the front of the building.

The block will have two new floors housing eight penthouses. The facade of the building will include new balconies.

Paul Seager, director of the firm, said: “We have applications in for the new facade which will be decided on September 15 and one for the two new floors on September 23.

“Once granted we expect to start work straight away.

“There is a lot of work going on. When it was offices the road was deserted in the evening but now there will be people using the area after 5.30pm. It’s going to be a very attractive boulevard. It will be the Mayfair of Southend.”