THE major redevelopment of Southend’s Queensway has taken a huge step forward after a housing developer signed on the dotted line to join the project.

Some 1,600 homes will be built in a joint partnership between Southend Council and Swan Housing Association as part of the plan.

The Echo revealed in February that Swan Housing, which manages properties across South Essex, was the preferred partner, and now a deal has finally been completed after negotiations started in March last year.

The joint venture partnership, called Porters Place Southend LLP, has now been formed and will work on creating a full masterplan for the site.

This will involve extra consultation with residents, businesses and other key stakeholders.

The LLP’s ambition is to submit its masterplan for planning approval in 2020.

Andy Lewis, deputy chief executive of Southend Council, said: “This is another important milestone in the regeneration of the Queensway estate and we look forward to working together to deliver this regeneration.

“This project will not only provide better housing and a better place for those currently living on the estate, it will also help to make this area a key entrance into our town centre and connect what will be a thriving new community with it and help to deliver a key part of our resident led ambition for 2050.

“This is really just the beginning and there is much more work to be done. We are now collectively focused on the next stages.

“This includes working with stakeholders, including residents and businesses to prepare a masterplan for submission for planning approval and more will be announced in due course.”

Swan Housing welcomed the latest project for the homes developer.

John Synnuck, CEO, said: “We’ve been taking on complex regenerations just like Better Queensway for the last 25 years and so we are delighted to now have entered into partnership with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council so that, working together, we can bring about the long-awaited regeneration of Queensway.”

He added: “Our teams are very much looking forward to working with the council, the residents and local stakeholders at Queensway to develop a masterplan for Queensway.”