The Client’s - streetscape remodelling

Southend-on-Sa Borough Council as the local authority recognised the opportunity to address the overall strategic aim to develop and maximise Southend's potential by generating business growth opportunities, improved quality of life for local people and economic benefits for Southend and more widely in South East Essex. For Southend to be transformed into a 'vibrant, better, safer and more pleasant urban environment ' there we as a need to create a quality environment for visitors and resident so spend their leisure time.

The Project

The project set out to increase the attractiveness of the region for residents businesses and visitors and this has been achieved by:

New paving spanning the whole High Street’ improving the general image of the town.

New street furniture including stylish stainless steel seating bins, bollards and planters with trees, again contributing to the aesthetics of the area.

Two unique seating areas. The first at the Millennium clock, which provides an attractive focal point at the northern end of the High Street. The second is in the central section of the High Street, which is a great location for social activity.

New lighting columns creating a brighter, safer environment thereby reducing the fear of crime.

“I” – points for access to a vast array of information on the move, i.e., public transport me tables weather reports, news and free email facility. The High Street works have also included work that was not part of the original plan, such as:

The infill of the redundant underground toilets in the middle of the High street , which have been replaced by state of the art toilets at Tyler's Avenue.

New stainless steel bollards and telescopic entrance system, the length of the High Street and at mark the edge of the road.

The works associated with new road crossings at the junctions of Tyler's Avenue, Clifftown Road, Clarence Street and Weston Road

The works accommodated the needs of the utility companies to lay new gas mains and shop supplies rationalise BT Services modify sewer connections for the new college, rationalise mains power distribution for metering, partial upgrading of CCTV network, relocation of main post boxes and repainting of the railway bridge.

The project involved working on a busy High Street and liaising with the public and business owners to minimise disruption

The Commission

The company (RSW Partnership) was the appointed consultants (ACE Conditions of Engagement) for engineering and design with project, cost and contract management and planning supervisor duties. The programme of works were phased over a four year period and incorporated replacing and relocating the business kiosks, infilling the below ground toilets, new crossing and bollards.

The form of contract was the ICE standard form and RSW Partnership was named “The Engineer”.