Basildon & the Thames Gateway

The Church in the

Thames Gateway

The Regeneration of Basildon

Regeneration plans have to be flexible to reflect changing circumstances. Although Basildon’s overall aims remain the same there is a noticeable shifting emphasis in the 2008 Progress Report which reflects the current reality. The main projects featured are:
Sporting Village. The development of this regional facility at Gloucester Park will include a 50 metre pool and has been approved as an official pre-Games training camp for Olympic and Paralympic teams in the lead up to 2012.
Basildon Town Centre. A long term development partner for this £1bn redevelopment was due to be announced in 2008 and is now promised for early 2009. This has always been a 20 year programme to include more retail and office space, a new public realm, a town centre college campus and 3,000 new homes. A £2m town centre improvement programme has already begun and the £80m college is promised for 2012.
Laindon, Pitsea and Wickford town centres’ redevelopment. Pitsea is underway as well as developments at Wat Tyler Country Park, which are funded by EEDA, Heritage Lottery Fund and Trusts. A developer has been announced for Laindon and Wickford’s masterplan is supposed to be attracting private sector interest.
Fryerns and Craylands estate redevelopment. Phase one will start in 2009 with £18m of Sustainable Communities funding.
Basildon Hospital. The £60m Cardiothoracic Centre has opened and a masterplan is being produced to investigate the potential to concentrate medical research and technologies in this area of Basildon.
As previously noted the main omission is development of the Gardiner’s Lane area which is on hold waiting for upgrades to the A127, for which no timescale is available.
In summary, many of the developments seem to be progressing, especially in the sport, education and medical fields. Commercial activity has held up so far but, as with the national picture, new house building is grinding to a halt.
More detail of Basildon’s plans can be found on the Basildon Council website www.basildon.gov.uk by searching for Basildon 2030 – Final TCDF)