A look inside eyesore Southend tower blocks that will be turned into flats

Two empty office blocks, in Victoria Avenue, are being transformed into nearly 300 luxury flats.

Southend-based developer Randall Watts is developing the eyesore Heath House and Carby House, which have been vacant for more than a decade.

Work has already started and the firm has given the Echo images of what the plush twobedroom apartments will look like when the development is finished by September 2017.

Even though it is two years before the homes will be ready, estate agents have said demand has been “relentless” and 30 apartments have already been sold, only two weeks after going on sale.

In total, Randall Watts will create 280 flats on the site, with some of them affordable homes, as well as three units for commercial tenants.

There will also be a restaurant, rooftop gardens, a concierge service and a gym onsite, as well as parking under the blocks.

Jake Gibson, manager of Haart Estate Agents in Westcliff, which is marketing the properties, said: “Our phones have been relentless.

Every second phonecall is about this development.

“We’ve had a lot of first-time buyers call up about it already, and I think that’s because it is a little bit different – you get the views, a gym, a concierge, and restaurants and shops at the bottom.

“And it is very sensibly priced.”

Randall Watts has christened the buildings Beaumont Court and Richmond House, with prices starting from £125,000 and rising to £260,000 on the top floor.

A total of 45 apartments were released on to the market, starting from £150,000, last month, to investors.

Kerry Owen, sales and marketing officer for Randall Watts said: “The first phase has been aimed at local investors and cash buyers.

“This is a great opportunity for investment with the rental yield on the apartments being very lucrative.

“Due to it being slightly too early to obtain a mortgage on the apartments for the rest of the market, the later phases will be released to the open market which will attract owner occupiers and especially first time buyers.

“Both Haart estate agents and Savills have been overwhelmed with the number of inquiries they have been receiving.”

ESTATE agents say Southend is becoming an attractive place for both London investors and commuters.

They claim rising prices in the capital are making the borough more attractive for both investors who would have snapped up property in London in years gone by, as well as those who work there.

Jake Gibson, from Haart Estate Agents in Westcliff, said: “We had an investor from London who bought several properties, as he get more for his price.

“He was looking at buying a big property in London, but for the same price he got several more in Southend.

“They will either go up in price or will be very rentable in two years’ time when the development is completed.”

Alan Kirkman, the director of Tudor Estates, based in Victoria Avenue, said he sold five properties in his Swan Hall development, in Fairfax Drive, in three weeks.

He said a mixture of commuters, investors, and local people were helping the property market in Southend become buoyant over the past few years.

He said: “Southend, in relation to London, is a very good proposition when you look at the difference in prices.

“We see a lot of investors from the capital and equally people who have lived there, but have come to Southend as it is so close to London, but so much cheaper.

“We are also seeing a good number of local people coming forward for new property, who have been renting in Southend, but want to buy their first home and get on the ladder.”