Councillors will discuss the next steps for the regeneration of Basildon town centre following public consultation on a draft masterplan which closed on 12 July.
The masterplan reimagines Basildon town centre from what it is at the moment – a shopping centre – into a home for thousands of people, an attractive destination for people region-wide seeking leisure and entertainment and a creative and dynamic place to work and do business.
The council’s Town Centre Revival Committee will meet on Thursday 23 July to consider the outcome of the six-week public consultation and to look at next steps.
Regeneration proposals are now coming forward from landowners and investors and planning applications are expected over the coming months covering a large portion of the town centre.
The committee will hear plans to develop a Basildon Town Centre Regeneration Strategy for approval in September that will provide a strategic direction to those developing proposals, ahead of a formal planning document being approved in the future. This strategy will be based on the draft masterplan document and the consultation feedback.
Leader of the Council and Chairman of the Town Centre Revival Committee Councillor Gavin Callaghan said: “I am delighted to see proposals coming forward from investors that support the delivery of our vision for Basildon town centre.
“It is clear that change is already happening and we need to be in control of that change. We have to act fast, take into account public feedback and agree a clear and coherent town centre regeneration strategy.
“We are in a great position now to get on and deliver the big, bold, transformational change that the public want to see.”
A Town Centre Regeneration Strategy will be brought before committee in September ahead of being presented to Full Council.
