Council leaders have backed plans to demolish two eyesore sites in Dovercourt as part of a £9million regeneration scheme.

The Dovercourt Town Centre Improvement Corridor scheme and Homes for Dovercourt scheme will see road and public realm improvements from Dovercourt railway station to Kingsway, a refurbishment of the town’s library to include Adult Community Learning, new housing in Victoria Street and an overhaul of the outdated Milton Road car park.

Last year it was announced the town would be getting £6.7million towards town centre improvement projects following a successful bid by Tendring District 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 had included new homes on the Milton Road car park site, but the housing element of the project is now set to be placed at Victoria Street, where TDC has acquired two derelict sites.

An update on the project was discussed by TDC’s Cabinet during its meeting on Friday, 26 July, following which the Cabinet agreed to the demolition of the outdated Milton Road car park and the derelict, fire-damaged building at 20 Victoria Street.

The Cabinet also agreed to allocate an additional £250,000 to increase the overall budget of the Homes for Dovercourt element of the revamp to £3.8million in order to support the changes to the project, which now includes the regeneration of three brownfield sites rather than one.

The cabinet also agreed to allocate up to £450,000 of the overall budget to progress demolition and associated works, while an external contractor will be commissioned to undertake the demolition works in accordance with the council’s procurement rules.

Councillor Ivan Henderson, deputy leader of TDC and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, 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 into the proposed designs for the schemes continues until August 7. To have your say, go to www.tendringdc.gov.uk/consultations/milton-road-consultation.

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