A new generation of 21st century internet homes are to be built on Southend's derelict gasworks site, it has been revealed.

Laing Homes has unveiled a blueprint for 92 flats and houses for the disused land in Eastern Esplanade, which will incorporate revolutionary cyber-world technology - and change the way people live forever.

Residents will be able to control the oven temperature from their sitting room, water the plants automatically, and keep an eye on the baby upstairs from a box in the corner of the television screen.

Matthew Byatt, marketing manager of Laing Homes North Home Counties, said: "Technology has improved considerably over the last few years, and we are now able to offer internet facilities built into the fabric of new houses.

"Computers and other facilities will need to be bought by the owners, but the infrastructure for them is already provided."

Sockets are placed throughout the house for computers, cameras and other handy automatic gadgets which can complete tasks such as drawing the curtains or locking the door.

The facilities are linked to the internet, and can be used from other computers - and can be operated from abroad.

A typical scenario would be a family on holiday responding to a weather forecast while on holiday abroad, said Mr Byatt. They could turn on the heating by remote control so the house was warm for their return.

Other useful features include a holiday mode, where day-to-tasks in the house are carried out automatically while the owners are away. Plants will be watered, and potential burglars will not realise anyone has left the house.

He added: "Laing has a lot of experience of building on brown field sites, like this contaminated gasworks site. Eighty per cent of our new homes are built on land like this, so we don't envisage any problems with the project.

"We're delighted our bid was accepted and look forward to regenerating this part of the town."

A similar project is under way in Perry Street, Billericay, where new houses are featuring the cable infrastructure, which can cost between £1,000 and £2,000 to install.

Building work in Southend is expected to start late next year following decontamination of the site and a consultation process.

The homes, which include affordable housing in line with Southend Council's policies, could be ready by the end of 2003.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.