Barratt wins £1bn rebuild of Basildon new town

Housebuilder Barratt has been chosen by Basildon council to undertake a £1bn redevelopment of the ageing new town’s centre over the next 20 years.

The company will use its Wilson Bowden Developments division to help build the scheme, which will include 52,000 sq m of retail and leisure space, 54,000 sq m of offices and 1,900 homes.

Barratt Wilson Bowden will now prepare a master plan within 12 months that will outline the detailed plans for the town centre and the timings of the various work. The scheme, which will take 20 years to roll out, also includes the doubling in capacity of the town’s 560-seat theatre, and new council offices.

Cllr Stephen Horgan, deputy leader of the Council, said there would be a real partnership with Barratt. He said: “Signing a contract is just a start. In many ways, the hard work is only just beginning.”

Cllr Tony Ball, leader of the Council said:  “This is a long-term project that will help to get Basildon back into the top 50 town centres in the country, where it belongs. With a new and improved shopping and leisure experience, more jobs and homes this will in turn help to create a new economic vibrancy to the town centre.  The regeneration is about the whole town centre, not just the shopping streets.”