CONSTRUCTION crews have been spotted on site of a once abandoned Laindon development which will see the creation of 205 new homes and a Lidl.

Developer Sanctuary has confirmed to the Echo ground works and surveying has started.

Once finished, the development will boast plush new homes, a Lidl supermarket, 15 other shops and medical centre, alongside parking and open space to compliment the Laindon war memorial and historic fountain.

Councillors joined the firm for a ceremony last December to celebrate the start of work on the Lidl, as Sanctuary started bulldozing the eyesore towers with plans to complete the site by 2026.

Laindon Park ward councillor, Jeff Henry is pleased that development has taken off and has promised Sanctuary that residents will keep a critical eye on their progress.

Mr Henry said: “This project is like a dock, there is nothing happening it seems, but a lot happening under the surface.

“The council has had constant contact with Sanctuary, and they have been nothing but honest, they could have pulled the plug on Swan’s failed development.

“They do want to deliver it and they have done consultation, we have raised concerns about the lack of building on the site and particularly the hoardings, which look disgraceful and must be replaced.

“I will always be a Laindoner before a councillor, we will always be pounding on them to finish the job because we have no amenities, there has been nothing for the less mobile and the less affluent.

“The fact they have come back and said they would do it all, 16 shops in total, 100 per cent affordable rather than the 15 per cent Swan promised is good.”

Mr Henry added that, while the lack of action over years has “been horrendous,” round the corner are “better days and better times” for the area.

A Sanctuary spokesman said: “We are delighted to progress this exciting project with surveys and groundwork ongoing. We will continue to keep the local community updated on progress.”

Construction stalled in 2022 on the plan for 224 homes in place of the former Laindon Shopping Centre as the proposal was “reviewed” after Sanctuary Housing took over the site from former developer Swan.