FRESH plans have been revealed to convert a landmark Southend highrise into 557 new homes.
A developer has asked Southend Council for its opinion over the bid to transform Alexander House, the former offices of HMRC in the city centre.
The move is seen as a possible precursor to a future planning application for the tower, in the gateway to the city in Victoria Avenue.
The old HMRC office block towers above the junction of Victoria Avenue, Queensway and Baxter Avenue.
Under the plans the ground floor of the 16-storey block are earmarked for “commercial use” with the remaining offices turned into flats.
It is the latest application for the building. Comer Homes unveiled plans for the block in May after receiving prior approval from Southend Council to convert the block into 334 one and two-bedroom apartments in 2021.
Victoria Avenue has become a boulevard of plush high-rise flats after the overhaul of several tower blocks, including Baryta House, Heath House, Carby House and Victoria Central.
David Garston, councillor responsible for housing and planning, welcomed the application but raised concerns about parking.
He said: “Whilst we are very sad to lose the employment from the VAT office what we really don’t want is an empty building.
“What could be controversial is the parking because there is one space for every other flat.
“I understand of course being right next to a railway station and all the transport hubs that you don’t physically need too many parking spaces, but what we are going to have to ensure is that the flats that have got the spaces is in the deeds and the flats that haven’t got a space are also in the deeds.
“That’s something we’ve got to watch very carefully. It’s going to mean more cars are going to be on the road and it’s very tight in the centre of town. Other than that I welcome it.
We’re desperately looking for homes and I’m sure they’ll be developed in a very good way.”
Mr Garston said the size of the homes would have to be monitored because of the increase from 334 homes to 557.
He said: “I think I’d like to see some professional advice on that. The planning officers would have to say whether they think its overmuch and the size of the units have to be within the national standard.
“We don’t want very small bedrooms like little boxes. They’ve got to be reasonable units of accommodation but I’d want to see what the planning officers say.”
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