NEW images have been released of the £500million Queensway transformation as residents have been encouraged to have their say.

Southend Council is consulting with residents over the first phase of the regeneration scheme - which includes more than 400 homes, artist’s studios, a cafe and shops.

New images show how the council is hoping to create leafy green open spaces and modern homes.

The first phase of the the huge project will start on the site of Quantock tower - which will be demolished once residents have moved out - and the temporary Essex Street car park.

Under the plans, the four dilapidated high-rise blocks, Malvern, Chiltern, Quantock, and Pennine - off Queensway in the centre of Southend - will be demolished to create around 1,668 new homes.

The plans are currently set to create 512 affordable homes, but council leader Ian Gilbert has said his aim is to boost that number by at least 100.

Council bosses say residents’ views will feed into the planning application for the first phase.

Geoff Pearce, Chair of the Porters Place Southend LLP Board and Deputy Chief Executive of Swan Housing Association, said: “At the first consultation, we asked residents what their priorities were in creating great places that they can call home.

“They told us that these were the outside space, the communal areas and the living space. We’ve since worked closely with the Residents Steering Group through four workshops, to ensure that they have both influenced these plans and are confident that these materials will be clear and understandable to residents.

“I think that the consultation undertaken so far shows that we are listening to residents about what they want from the regeneration.

“Now we want to know if our more detailed plans meet or even exceed their expectations, as we await the determination of the ‘hybrid planning application’ and prepare for the next stage.”

Visit betterqueensway.co.uk