Dirty Dozen crackdown forces progress as two sites come off list

The Kursaal and the Old Vienna site have both been taken off the list following significant positive action.

At the Kursaal, new leaseholders have now been secured, with plans progressing to bring the historic building back into active use as a leisure destination. Meanwhile, the Old Vienna site in Leigh-on-Sea has made substantial progress towards redevelopment, reflecting renewed momentum and commitment to delivering a long-awaited scheme.

As part of this latest update, two new sites from the Council's reserve list will now be added to the Dirty Dozen:

• Old Blockbuster, London Road
• 9 Clarence Road

The Dirty Dozen initiative, launched in December 2025, was designed to shine a spotlight on the city's most problematic sites and work proactively with owners to bring them back into use, boosting investment and improving the local environment.

Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of Southend-on-Sea City Council, said: "This is exactly what the Dirty Dozen was designed to do - drive change. This is about taking a proactive approach, not just naming problems but fixing them. We are working closely with landowners, driving progress, and making it clear that long-term neglect will not be tolerated in our city.

"We are already seeing real movement on sites that have been stuck for years, and the progress at the Kursaal and Old Vienna shows what can be achieved when that pressure is applied.

"This is a rolling programme. As sites improve, they come off the list - and new ones take their place. We will continue to promote sites from our reserve list to maintain momentum and ensure no part of our city is left behind. We will also continue to monitor sites that come off the list. Once progress is made, it must be sustained - we will not tolerate sites slipping back into long-term neglect."

The Dirty Dozen list will continue to be reviewed regularly, with further updates expected as progress is made across the city.