Tax office high-rise to be turned into 557 flats

29 September 2025

Christine SextonLocal Democracy reporter

News image — Alexander House, a former HMRC office block, will be turned into 557 flats

BBC Alexander House in Southend. It is an empty, concrete office block, with rows of windows on each floor. It is too tall to fit into the picture. At the front of the building, there are empty parking spaces with overgrown weeds. — Alexander House, a former HMRC office block, will be turned into 557 flats

Plans to transform a former tax office high-rise into 557 flats has cleared the final hurdle.

Developer Comer Homes secured planning permission to redevelop HMRC's Alexander House, in Southend-on-Sea.

The city council approved the scheme in October 2024, subject to a Section 106 agreement which has now been finalised, which ensures the developer will contribute to other infrastructure and services, including more than £300,000 for local schools.

Anna Jones, Labour cabinet member for planning and housing, said: "This scheme will transform a long-empty building into hundreds of much-needed homes."

The development will convert the long-vacant office block with no major external changes to the building's structure, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Another picture of Alexander House. It shows the ground floor, which is behind railings. A brick wall behind the railings has the name of the building engraved in it. The derelict car park can be seen in the background. — Alexander House is a former HM Revenue and Customs building

The agreement, which was signed on this month, included a range of commitments:

£317,897, which would contribute towards improvements at Southchurch Academy or a nearby secondary school
£45,000 to upgrade bus stop infrastructure at Victoria Gateway
£6,000 towards taxi rank improvements
£8,000 per year for five years to monitor travel plans and provision of up to three car-club vehicles on-site, phased in as occupancy increases

The developer also agreed to a range of transport and highways contributions and for 56 shared ownership units in the tower block to be designated as "affordable housing".

Ms Jones added: "The development will be subject to a Section 106 agreement, ensuring contributions are secured to support local services and deliver benefits for our city."

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