The first phase of design development to transform the quality of the seafront from the Pier to the old Corporation Jetty is now complete and adopted by the Council as a Development Brief and interim planning guidance. This work has been funded by HCA.
The creation of an improved public realm, to make the central area and seafront attractive, distinctive and memorable is at the heart of realising the vision and objectives of the Southend Central Area Masterplan (Final report March 2008), and especially in the sense of celebrating the town centre’s position by the side of the sea.
The town is one of the most visited coastal resorts in the UK, and its seafront and beach have entertained and won the affection of generations of visitors.
Some of the objectives included in the Design Brief are:
• To reinvent the Seafront and create a resort experience that can be dynamic, invigorating and recuperative, and fits with today’s lifestyles and recreational expectations.
• To transform the Seafront into a year round recreational experience for residents and visitors, offering opportunities for fun, relaxation and healthy exercise and learning in a high quality natural environment
• To build on the Victorian tradition of the town and its maritime associations
• To introduce a 21st century healthy living ethic to the Seafront experience
• To respect the ecological status of the foreshore
• To explore opportunities for the introduction of quality and enduring public art and illumination
• To address the sustainability agenda in terms of mitigating flood risk, rainwater disposal and renewable sources of energy
HCA has allocated a further sum of £7M for next phase design work and implementation of the first phase of construction improvements. The aim is to complete the first phase improvements by March 2011.