SOUTHEND Council has bought up the Victoria shopping centre for £10million - with bosses hopeful artists and entrepreneurs will be eyeing up empty shops. The authority has taken the extraordinary move to buy the centre at the top of the high street. Council bosses say the buy-up shows their commitment to the future of Southend town centre. It is also the first time the council has a financial interest in the town centre. The centre last changed hands in 2016 for more than £24million. The council says the cash for the sale has come a £22.3m pot set aside for “strategic and regeneration acquisitions”.
SOUTHEND Council has bought up the Victoria shopping centre for £10million - with bosses hopeful artists and entrepreneurs will be eyeing up empty shops. The authority has taken the extraordinary move to buy the centre at the top of the high street. Council bosses say the buy-up shows their commitment to the future of Southend town centre. It is also the first time the council has a financial interest in the town centre. The centre last changed hands in 2016 for more than £24million. The council says the cash for the sale has come a £22.3m pot set aside for “strategic and regeneration acquisitions”.