Barratt Homes and Wilson Bowden Developments, alongside Basildon council, have unveiled a draft masterplan for the £1bn regeneration of the Essex town.
The 20-year plan includes the development of 430,000 sq ft of shopping and leisure space including a cinema, restaurants, bars and cafés, as well as 270,000 sq ft of offices, up to 2,000 homes, a 150-bedroom hotel, upgraded public realm and new public squares.
Pedestrian access to the town centre will be improved, with the town’s subway system removed and a new station square created, as well as a new “transit mall” for taxis and buses.
The plans will be presented to the council’s cabinet on 26 January. If approved, the plans will then be put out to public consultation.
Barratt and Wilson Bowden were confirmed as Basildon council’s development partners in October 2010.
David Eardley, managing director of Barratt Eastern Counties, part of the BWB partnership, said: “This is a great opportunity to move these plans forward, giving the people of Basildon improvements to the town centre, bringing further future investment and making Basildon a better place to live, work and relax in.”
Stephen Horgan, deputy leader of Basildon council, said: “There is clear evidence to suggest that the town centre has an overprovision of retail, and an underprovision of leisure, restaurants, cafes and bars. The master plan very sensibly seeks to redress that balance, by looking to improve the quality of our shop units and making them bigger and more flexible to meet retailers’ needs.”
daniel.cunningham@estatesgazette.com
