A City by the Sea
The public and private members of Renaissance Southend’s Board share a common goal – to build on Southend’s many assets in delivering long-term and sustainable regeneration.
As the biggest town in Essex, serving a population equivalent to a small midland city, the town’s economy has the potential to expand and perform to a much higher level.
Southend is also the most urbanised Borough in the Eastern Region, and despite the challenges of geography and the limits of space, already has a track record of achieving significant development. The recent development of the Southend Campus by South East Essex College of Art and Design and the University of Essex represents a significant chance for the town’s next generation to achieve the skills and qualifications they will need locally. Whilst the average income of residents is boosted by commuting to London, for those working locally the figure is significantly lower and compares unfavourably with other parts of the Eastern Region, where the gap is much narrower.
The reasons for this are complex and Southend’s geography and connectivity will always be constraints. Our challenge is to improve the number and quality of jobs.
There is already much to celebrate about Southend and Renaissance Southend has drawn up a strategy for the next 10-15 years, which it believes will build upon these assets to ensurethat Southend can fulfil its potential as a regional and cultural centre – ‘a City by the Sea’.
I hope you will share in our ambition and help us to build a better future for Southend.
