Communities and Local Government
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Basildon
Select one of the numbers below to link to the relevant case study.
Basildon is 25 miles from London and home to 167,000 people. It is a key employment centre in the Thames Gateway South Essex sub-region, with nearly 60,000 people work within its boundaries. Basildon is well served by transport: the A13 and the A127 provide good access to the M25 and the rest of Essex. On the rail network, Basildon is 35 minutes from Fenchurch Street, making the City and Canary Wharf (via West Ham) an attractive employment proposition. Billericay and Wickford are 30 minutes from Liverpool Street via Stratford.
Historically, Basildon has attracted inward investment from leading international companies, particularly in manufacturing and engineering industries. Key employers include Case New Holland Tractors; Selex (formerly BAE Systems Avionics Group); and the Ford Motor Company research and development centre at Dunton. 13,000 people now work in financial and business services with International Financial Data Services and First Data Europe being the largest employers. Other growth sectors include the motor industry suppliers, health and pharmaceuticals, and creative industries.
Town centres across the district will be key drivers of growth, accommodating 50 per cent of the proposed housing growth and many employment opportunities. Basildon town centre presents the greatest potential. The Town Centre Development Framework sets an ambitious programme for change, identifying net capacity for 3,650 new homes, 49,000 m2 of additional retail/leisure floorspace, and 55,000 m2 of additional commercial space, including a new civic centre and library/theatre complex.
Basildon is not the only town centre which will be regenerated. Wickford is a popular place to live and the town centre has the opportunity to be a major centre for a specialised retail and leisure offer, and smaller scale office market. An approved master plan includes 600 new homes in the town centre, major investment in the public realm and consolidation of the retail offer. There are comprehensive redevelopment plans in place for Laindon where plans have been approved for a new 6,220 m2 food store, 20 retail units and 138 new homes. Masterplanning for Pitsea town centre is also underway and will be completed in March 2007.
Almost two-thirds of the 60,000 people working in Basildon are based along a three-mile stretch of the A127. This 'Enterprise Corridor' covers 262 hectares and contains some 1.2 million m2 of commercial floorspace, making it one of the largest employment opportunity areas in the greater South East. A comprehensive Action Plan for the area is being prepared.
Social infrastructure interventions to support this growth include:
- new £60m cardiothorassic centre at Basildon University Hospital will bring around 500 new jobs to the district. The 14,000 m2, four-storey building will contain 100 beds, operating theatres for heart and major chest surgery, and a critical care unit. £1.3m has also been invested in a specialist cardiocatherisation lab.
- the redevelopment of Thurrock and Basildon College will offer a new heath and social care centre for vocational excellence, and provide vital FE and vocational training resource.
- £18.5m invested in the Crayland Estate Renewal Scheme.
- in the East Basildon Education Action Zone, Chalvedon and Barstable Schools have formed a new academy to prepare young people for the challenges of economic growth in the Thames Gateway.
- the creation of a major visitor attraction at the Wat Tyler Country Park with a new heritage centre and improved links to Pitsea town centre. Elsewhere, the Nevendon Nature Reserve will create a nature reserve of up to 75 hectares between Wickford and Basildon.
- plans are being drawn up for a major new Sporting Village to the northern side of Gloucester Park. The Village would be a centre first class multi-sport facility will be of regional significance. £20m of funding has been pledged from Basildon Council and Essex County Council.
- £63m investment in the Sadlers Farm scheme will improve traffic flows around Basildon.
