Southend Borough Council has appointed IBI Group to provide it with the design and urban planning services for its Better Queensway Project.The Better Queensway project aims to regenerate the Queensway area of Southend by providing high quality housing, shops and community facilities, and new public spaces.The project aims to reconnect the area and its residential hinterland, encouraging walking and cycling to the town centre.This will be achieved by a major restructuring of the local road network including decking over the post-war ring road to create development and a new public space and improving the setting of the historic ‘Porters’ building.Proposals include the replacement of existing tower blocks and the provision of approximately 1,200 new apartments and town-houses for single people, couples, families and older people.