SOUTHEND Cabinet have approved plans to start the process and look for a developer for the £300million town centre regeneration.

The council are pushing on with plans for the Queensway project which will see the Penine, Malvern, Chiltern and Quantock blocks, all off Queensway, Southend, demolished and replaced with shops and one, two,  and three bedroom homes.

A number of recommendations were approved as part of the meeting, which also approved the start date of looking for a developer, which will be May, with a decision due by January 2018.

It is hoped that contracts will be signed by March 2018.

It was also agreed that a minimum of 441 affordable homes would be included in the scheme and that currenbt tenants would keep the same terms and conditions as current secure tenancies.

Returning council tenants will also retain the right to buy clause.

Also agreed at the meeting, was the preference for 1:1 residential parking is included and that the principle of a community fund is included to maximise the development and integration of the community.