A DOMINATING Southend town centre office block that has been empty for three years is set to be demolished.

Southend Council planning officers have received an application to pull down the 14-storey Portcullis House in Victoria Avenue.

The building is in the hands of London-based landlords Mapeley Estates, who took over the property in 2008 when HM Revenue and Customs relocated their staff to next door Alexander House.

If the demolition operation goes ahead, it could take up to ten months to bring the tower down.

Applicant William Foster states that the move to get rid of Portcullis House is important to pave the way for redevelopment, yet no indication has been given about the future of the site.

Patsy Link, spokeswoman for campaign group Skipp, is in favour of bringing the building down.

She said: “When you come into Southend it looks absolutley awful. We would just like to know that whatever is going to happen, it is not going to be a waste of taxpayers’ money like another car park.

“We are calling for affordable housing. A lot of people would be happy to live there because it is not a bad area.”

Independent councillor Martin Terry agreed there was a need for housing and slammed Southend Council for their failure to convert empty boarded up office blocks such as Carby House and Heath House in Victoria Avenue.

Talks to transform Carby House into flats have taken place since 2004 while Heath House was to be converted into a paintballing centre, but plans for both developments have failed to materialise.

Mr Terry said: “Affordable housing has got to be a priority. This is a serious issue and we need to be in talks with developers.”

Christine Hills, of St Helen’s Road, Westcliff, said: “It would be ideal if some housing could be put there for young people who are just starting out with their family and have a genuine need.”

Jonathan Garston, Tory councillor for planning, claimed that no plans will be made for the future of the site until a decision has been made on the demolition project.

A spokesman for Mapeley Estates was unavailable for comment.