A CABINET has agreed to commit almost £1.6 million to redevelop a site in a town centre.

Tending Council cabinet met last Friday and committed £1.595 million to purchase the Starling site, in Dovercourt, and to demolish the neighbouring Milton Road Car Park.

There are proposals of turning the site into a public open space and play area with public toilets, while the current car park would be replaced with housing.

The scheme is part of the Dovercourt Rediscovered masterplan and forms two of the Dovercourt Twenty projects.

A Tendring Council’s spokesman said the start date of the works is still unknown as they don’t own the Starlings site yet, but approval of this scheme now allows the council to go ahead to negotiate and buy the site.

Mary Newton, cabinet member for business and economic growth, said this was a project long overdue.

She added: “The Starlings site has long been overdue, and I am pleased that we are now able to approve this business case and look to press ahead.

“This scheme not only brings back into use an eyesore site at the Starlings, the centre of complaints from residents for years, but also gets rid of our outdated Milton Road Car Park – but actually increases public parking.

“We will also see new and improved public toilets and a play area, and provide some much-needed housing, while setting out our stall for the longer-term rejuvenation of Dovercourt town centre.

“Until we secure ownership of the Starlings site, we cannot put a firm timeline on this project.”

The masterplan consists not only of the redevelopments projects but also proposes events such as festivals and more formal town centre management.