A number of homes on a “ghost estate” of half-built flat pack houses in Southend are set to be razed to the ground, the Echo can reveal.

The Meadow Grange development was set to see 131 homes built in Fossetts Way.

The Guinness Partnership, which behind the plan, says it is now in the “final stages” of agreeing the demolition of some of the part-constructed homes. It is not clear how many will be bulldozed.

The firm said if all goes to plan the part-built homes would start to be demolished next month in a process which will take five weeks.

Guinness says it was unable to find a new contractor due to the “specialist design” of former developer Ilke Homes’ factory-built modular homes. The company went into administration in June, 2023.

It has also been revealed five almost complete homes failed to meet necessary regulatory requirements following a survey by the National House-Building Council.

A spokesman for the Guinness Partnership said: “This was not a decision we took lightly but, given the circumstances, if the current buildings are not demolished, we will not be able to resume construction work on site.

“During the demolition we will make every effort to recycle what can be salvaged, such as kitchens and bathrooms and, working with the local authority, these will be offered to community groups, schools or colleges in the local area. We are committed to developing the site and building affordable homes and are looking to appoint a new contractor, as soon as possible and we hope work will re-commence on site by spring next year.”

Martin Berry, St Lukes ward councillor and member of the development control committee, says demolition was the “only option” left for the site.

He said: “I am relieved that something is happening with the site. They’re hoping to restart work on the site in spring next year. I have asked for a meeting with the developers along with MP David Burton-Sampson, to make sure that the work does get done and that we have more frequent updates. There is still a long way to but I hope at the end we can have the crucial social housing that we needed for years. Demolition was the only option we were left with. It is not ideal but I am hopeful that they will be able to find a partner to take this on.”

The site, at the back of Southend’s Waitrose store, is overgrown with weeds and tarpaulin covering the scaffolding of the homes has broken away over time.