RESIDENTS were invited to give their views on initial plans for a rundown shopping centre.

Swan Housing is planning to upgrade the Laindon Shopping Centre, High Road, Laindon and create a mixture of homes, mostly private, and shops.

Swan held a consultation with residents at the Great Berrys Residents Association, Nightingales, Langdon Hills which was attended by almost 100 people.

People living in Laindon and Langdon Hills were very passionate about the development, which has been 20 years in the making following previous failed attempts.

Swan Housing, the centre’s sixth owner in the past decade, has been fine-tuning plans for a mix of shops and new homes since more than 600 residents turned up to an initial exhibition in July.

Land around the existing war memorial was going to be designed into a square, but Swan has now revealed designs for a community garden. A supermarket and dedicated office for the housing association are also included, with the site set to be modelled on a traditional High Street.

Feedback from residents showed they wanted “something vibrant and modern” with a large car park.

Luke Riley, 48, project director for the Laindon Centre development, said Swan Housing is committed to the project.He added: “People will believe it when they see it and we get that.We have a lot of tenants living in and around the Laindon Centre and we own the buildings.

“This is about regeneration which is more than just building houses, it’s about shops, public space and community. We want to focus on what the residents want which include saving the war memorial, the High Road and other important parts of the area.”

Swan is also looking to move its headquarters to the Laindon Centre and also the medical centre as part of the development. Mr Riley said: “We need support of residents but also of the council. There has been a lot of interest in from MPs and councillors.”