QUANTOCK will be the first of four tower blocks to be demolished to make way for the £500million Queensway redevelopment.

Council bosses have revealed new details of the £500million scheme weeks before they submit a planning application, which is expected to include around 1,669 new homes.

Many of them will replace the four high-rise blocks on the Queensway estate - Malvern, Chiltern, Quantock, and Pennine – which are in the centre of Southend.

It is hoped that if planning permission can be granted swiftly building work on the first set of homes, located on the temporary Essex Street Car Park, can begin sometime in 2021 and completed by 2023.

Once complete the residents of Quantock will be have the option to move into the new properties, paying the same level of rent as they do now.

The existing tower will then be demolished.

In a newsletter sent to residents, the council explained: “The next homes will be built on the site of the Quantock tower and we will continue to move residents into their new homes from each tower, in turn, until the regeneration is complete.”

It added the council will “do all we can” to stick to the schedule “as long as the current pandemic does not escalate”.

Councillor Ron Woodley, who oversees transport, capital and inward investment, said: “Subject to planning approval, we could see building work begin in 2021 and residents moving into their new homes by 2023.

“Once residents from Quantock have moved to their new homes, it will be demolished to make way for the next phase of homes.

“It’s an exciting time for the project and the culmination of years of work and planning.”

The Queensway estate is currently comprised of 441 homes across four tower blocks.

The blocks date back to the 1960s and have been plagued with problems linked to crime and drugs.

Tackling this has been one of the biggest priorities for the council which has promised the new homes will benefit from secure entrances that are only accessible using a key fob, as well as a concierge service which will monitor a CCTV system that operates throughout the development.

Council leader Ian Gilbert has also suggested the authority will explore ways the community safety team can help support with security