University of Essex student flats work on target

A MULTIMILLION-pound development to supply homes for hundreds of students is significantly taking shape in Southend. The 15-storey building, on the old South East Essex College site, located in London Road, will be used as halls of residence for 561 students at the nearby University of Essex in October 2010. Below it, an underground car park, which will be run by Southend Council, is being built in order to replace the current multi-storey car park, which is earmarked for demolition. University spokesman Vicky Passingham said: “The construction work is going extremely well and is ahead of programme. The new student accommodation will be modern, high-quality and in a good location."