COUNCIL leaders have approved plans to demolish two eyesore sites in Dovercourt as part of a £9million regeneration scheme.
The majore project will see road and public space improvements from Dovercourt railway station to Kingsway, a revamp of the town’s library to include adult community learning, new housing in Victoria Street and an overhaul of the outdated Milton Road car park.
It is part of the Dovercourt Town Centre Improvement Corridor and Homes For Dovercourt scheme.
Last year it was announced the town would be getting £6.7million towards town centre improvement projects following a successful bid by Tendring Council (TDC) and Essex County Council (ECC) to the government-funded Capital Regeneration Project.
The rest of the money for the works will be provided by TDC and ECC.
Initial plans included new homes on the Milton Road car park site, but the housing element of the project is now earmarked for Victoria Street, where TDC has acquired two derelict sites.
An update on the project was discussed by Tendring Council bosses on Friday (July 26).
The council's cabinet agreed to the demolition of the outdated Milton Road car park and a derelict, fire-damaged building in Victoria Street.
Bosses also agreed to pump in an extra £250,000 to boost the money for the Homes For Dovercourt part of the revamp to £3.8million.
That will support the changes to the project, which now include the regeneration of three brownfield sites instead of one.
The cabinet also agreed to allocate up to £450,000 of the overall budget for demolition work by an external contractor.
Council deputy leader Ivan Henderson said: “The scheme will breathe new life into two tired sites, helping to create a more vibrant town centre that people can take pride in, while raising quality of life for our residents.
“The aim of the Homes for Dovercourt scheme is to construct 9 to 12 social housing residences on the Victoria Street sites - a core requirement of the Capital Regeneration Project and reinstate ground level parking at Milton Road.
“The existing car park is beyond its useful life and has been closed since the opening of the Orwell Road car park and events space in September last year.
“But demand still remains for additional parking in Dovercourt, in particular on market days and when Orwell Place is used as an events space.
“Carrying out the demolition will ensure the sites are ready for development in time for commencement of the main works and we plan to bring the lower level of the car park back into use sooner.”
Development of the Victoria Street and Milton Road sites will be subject to planning permission with the entire project due for completion in 2026.
A four-week consultation over the proposed designs for the schemes runs until August 7. To have your say, go to tendringdc.gov.uk/consultations/milton-road-consultation.
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