A MULTI-million pound development of luxury apartments is set to become a landmark in the heart of Grays.

Tensquared is a Bellway Homes development of 100 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom properties, in Hogg Lane next to Morrisons supermarket.

The £8.5million development took just over a year to build and was officially opened by Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation planning committee chairman Bill Samuel.

Tensquared was the first major development application to go before the Development Corporation and according to Mr Samuel it has set a benchmark for design in Thurrock. He said: "This is an important site in Grays and the quality delivered in this scheme puts a marker down for everything that follows."

The apartments range from studios at around £125,000 to two-bedroom properties priced in the region of £215,000.

Dubbed Tensquared because it consists of 100 apartments, it boasts an underground car park, balconies and patio terraces.

Jason Honeyman, managing director of Bellway Homes, said: "We're very pleased that the Development Corporation have acknowledged that we've raised the design standard in Thurrock."

Mr Honeyman thanked all those involved with the development including, David Harris of ATP Architects, senior site manager Lawrie Mercer, Swann Housing, Porter Glenny Estate Agents and the sales team at Bellway.

He also paid tribute and presented bottles of Champagne to two of the first homeowners. Steven Fitzpatrick, 37, has bought a studio apartment and says it's in the perfect location near the train station for his commute to London where he works as a Metropolitan Police officer.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to moving in. The building itself is impressive and it's in a very convenient location."

City secretary Kim Bloss, 49, echoed Mr Fitzpatrick and said the location was "handy" for transport links to London.

Kim has bought a two-bedroom apartment and is planning to celebrate with a joint moving in and 50th birthday party.

Of the 100 apartments 26 were sold as shared ownership properties by Swann Housing. Of the remaining 74 Bellway properties just 18 remain unsold.