Following the Secretary of State's decision on Fossetts Farm and speculation on prospects for the future redevelopment of Tylers and Seaway car parks (referred to as St John's Quarter in the Central Area Masterplan), Renaissance Southend has issued the following statement:
'The Inspector's report into Southend United Football Club's applications has examined the extent to which the proposed retail floor space at Fossetts Farm would adversely affect the town centre. He has concluded, on the basis of the evidence presented at the Inquiry, that because the St John's scheme is still at a very early stage in terms of concept and planning, that the development of Fossetts Farm by 2011 would not necessarily prejudice either the long term regeneration of the town centre, nor the eventual re-development of St John's, which may take another 5 years to bring forward. He has not sought to make any further judgement on the merits of any of the future town centre proposals.
Renaissance Southend has always recognised that town centre regeneration will be a long term project and that complex sites, such as St John's, take many years to realise. At present there is no formal commitment by the Council to any detailed scheme for this area. Further work and public consultation on a Supplementary Planning Document for the town centre as a whole will be required before any such decision can be taken and funding obtained.
Nevertheless, the town needs to be competitive to survive and prosper and the decision at Fossetts Farm means that working with the Council, and other partners, as well as the private sector, we will need to redouble our efforts to raise the town centre's profile and attraction as a place to live, work, shop and play, for both residents and visitors.'
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