Southend Fossetts Way demolition of half-built homes

The Meadow Grange development, in Fossetts Way, promised to deliver 131 new flat-pack and affordable homes, but the construction process was put on “pause” in June last year after construction partner Ilke Homes went into administration. Demolition - Half-built homes in Southend (Image: Martin Halliday)

Guinness Homes, the developer behind the project, began demolition work last week and new images show work is well underway before the homes are razed to the ground and rebuilt. 

Martin Halliday, an urban explorer who visits old and empty buildings, as well as historic sites in south Essex for his YouTube channel DE-evolved said he was shocked to see how much work had taken place prior to Ilke collapsing. 

The developer is searching for a new construction partner so it can restart the project once demolition is complete. 

Shock - Homes to be pulled down (Image: Martin Halliday)

Mr Halliday said: “I was in the area and had thought for a while I should get some shots of the new builds whilst they are in the demolition process.

“I was astounded when I saw first-hand, just how far along into the construction process the building were, with some looking almost finished. There were new paths hidden further back by a pond of sorts. I walked around the perimeter of the site whilst the workers tended their duties. I am amazed the work was allowed to get to this stage before the issues were highlighted and became a problem.

Process - Demolition is underway (Image: Martin Halliday)

“It definitely seems like a huge waste of money to whomever is or was financing the project.

"Locals seem split 50/50 over the latest developments – or lack of – with some preaching that they should never have been built there in the first place with growing concerns of how overcrowded Southend is becoming and how the infrastructure is struggling to cope.

"Personally, I think residents want affordable good quality housing and not cheap, and inadequate flat-pack homes.”

Abandoned - Homes will be demolished (Image: Martin Halliday)

Decision - Workers on site in Southend (Image: Martin Halliday)

Guinness Homes insists that it was “not a decision taken lightly”, but “if the current buildings are not demolished, they won’t be able to resume construction work on site”. 

The developer will recycle what they can and donate kitchens and fittings from the homes to charities in Southend.

To watch Mr Halliday’s video, visit youtube/113H-onf2cU?si=kDgYWAXRx-1sFYfy