A GRAND plan for Southend has become official council policy.

The Southend 2050 strategy has been described by council leader John Lamb as his “pride and joy” and gives residents an outline of how the borough will evolve over the next 32 years.

The plan was approved at a full council meeting held on Thursday night and was praised for taking on the views of opposition councillors and community groups across the town.

Initial projects in the scheme have been outlined in a roadmap that sets out a timetable for what the council aims to carry out between 2019 and 2025.

This includes major projects, such as the launch of a campaign for a new acute care hospital and the start of the Queensway regeneration scheme in 2020.

A new pavilion is expected to open on Southend Pier in 2021, all homes and businesses will have high-speed internet by 2022 and a major new business park at Southend Airport will be completed by 2023.

The council will also launch campaigns for Crossrail to be brought out to Southend and for a fourth Thames crossing.

Speaking at the meeting Labour councillor Ian Gilbert said: “I’d like to congratulate people on their work on Southend 2050.

“It would be very easy to be cynical about policy exercises in local government consultations and such like, but I do think the work done on this is of a high standard and I think there has been a genuine willingness to listen and engage with opposition councillors and other groups across the town.”

It was also praised by Liberal Democrat councillor Carole Mulroney, who called it a “good piece of work” that is “aspirational”.

The deputy leader of the council, James Courtenay, said: “While the roadmap is good and sound, we need to look at delivering things that are on there.

“An awful lot will happen in the next 32 years, just as there has been in the past 32 years, but the exciting thing in 2050 is that actually there is half a chance they will be joined up thinking and that will make a real difference as we go forward.”

In 2019 the council is aiming to complete work on the Kent Elms junction, make a decision on the £50million Seaway Lesiure Centre and open new artist studios in Westcliff.

The following year the aims include new community spaces in the town centre for arts and music as well as new homes, the launch of a campaign for a new acute hospital and development of Queensway.

By 2021 the council, as the local education authority, wants all schools to be rated as good or outstanding and for improvement work at the Bell junction of the A127 to be completed.

By 2022 it is hoped all homes and businesses will have access to a fibre internet network, improved flood defences and a housing plan to build thousands of new homes.

The following year is earmarked for the completion of the airport business park and the third Thames crossing.

In 2025 it is hoped whatever work has been agreed for Queensway will be completed, Crossrail can be extended from Shenfield to Southend and a new acute health facility or hospital will be available.

While all the plans were applauded, concerns have been raised about the lack of plans for social housing given the shortfall currently.

Southend has a housing waiting list of more than a thousand people with 225 of those households having either no fixed address or residing in hostels, hotels or B&Bs.

The 2050 strategy states that the borough has some of the lowest wages in the country but some of the most expensive properties.

Councillor Mulroney described the situation as a “crisis”.

Councillor Gilbert proposed a motion calling for social housing to be built on Fossetts Farm.

He said: “We are never going to provide for the needs of local people without the direct provision of more social housing in the borough and the report is unfortunately silent on that.”

Deputy leader Tory James Courtenay acknowledged social housing was not included but insisted there is a “real desire” to improve the town and promised social housing will be addressed.