A DERELICT block of 18 flats will be demolished and replaced with new homes to tackle Basildon Council’s waiting list as part of a £7million project.

The flats, in High Barrets, near Southmayne, near Pitsea Tesco, have been deemed to be structurally damaged and Basildon Council is on the hunt for a developer to take on plans to build 26 new homes in its place.

Plans have been considered since 2020 after issues with subsidence led to all residents moving out and the council agreeing it would be cheaper to demolish the building than carry out repairs.

The development would see the creation of 26 flats across a five-storey building and Basildon Council is now seeking a developer to take on a £7million contract to lead the new housing project.

Craig Rimmer, Tory candidate for Pitsea South East, said: “One of the buildings on the estate was condemned and people were vacated, this contract is part of a long-term plan to renew the estate and it is extremely exciting to be getting on with it and helping to renew the area.

“We are trying to share the benefits of investment and we are trying to prove we are committed to housing and regenerating our housing stock.

“This has been in the pipeline for around five years, there have been general structural issues there for a long time and it is good to come up with a better solution.

“The plan is to demolish the condemned flats; people have been moved and have found other places to live.”

Nethermayne independent candidate, Kerry Smith, believes the council has “dragged its feet” too long when rebuilding the homes.

“It is a disgrace that for three years, in the middle of Covid, we identified the issue and that the only option was to demolish it while the council sat there in the middle.

“We have a housing crisis, imagine if this had been sorted three years ago,” he said.

Craig Rimmer (Con) is running for Pitsea South East in the May 2 local elections against Adeshile Yetunder (Con), Gary Canham (Con), Linda Harrison (Ind), Christopher Hilleard (Lab), Gilliam Palmer (Lab), Steven Spowart (Lib Dem) and Steven Willis (Green).

Kerry Smith (Ind) is running for Nethermayne in the May 2 local elections against Ann Blake (Con), Lewis Chambers (Lib Dem), Mo Larkin (Ind), Dave Martin (Con), Yanik Moyet (Lab), Eddie Murphy (Ind) and Maz Uluhan (Con).