THE Echo can today reveal the first images of how Basildon will look after a multi-million pound overhaul aimed at breathing new life into the town centre.

Never-seen-before images show how Basildon is set to be transformed.

Echo:

Big changes - the draft version of an "unrivalled and ambitious” masterplan have been revealed 

Planners say it will happen through an “unrivalled and ambitious” masterplan which will tackle a spiralling decline which has led to the town being voted the worst in the entire UK.

As part of the plans, it can also be revealed the over-capacity Towngate Theatre is set for an expansion.

This will include new studios, a café and bar as part of a “broadened cultural programme” which would allow it to become “cultural anchor for the town centre”.

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The new proposals also show a desire to move Basildon Council offices, including Basildon Library, closer to the commercial heart of the town centre.

Bosses say the council offices generate significant footfall, through staff and visitors using the services, which could increase the number of people even further using town centre businesses and retailers.

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When pushed on where the council offices could move to in the town centre - and how exactly the theatre would be able to expand - a spokesman said that level of detail had not been decided upon so therefore could not be revealed.

The exciting and ambitious masterplan documents, published ahead of a crunch meeting set to take place next week, also show where 4,000 new homes will be built across the town and how a new “connected transport area” - which would bring together the train station and bus station - could lead to a new hotel being built nearby.

And new details revealed how of the 4,000 homes:

• 910 will be built in the St Martin’s and Westgate Area

• 550 units in the Town Square and East Square area

• 840 units around the new transport hub around Southernhay

• 1,150 units in the Eastgate area

• 750 units in the Great Oaks area.

Labour leader of the council Gavin Callaghan is confident it will happen.

He said: “This masterplan is like no other produced by this authority.

“It’s unrivalled in its ambition to totally re-imagine this town which has been declining for years and was voted the worst in the UK.

“That was the low from which it will rise to become a place we can all be proud of. That journey has begun.”

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The leader added: “This masterplan takes into consideration the whole town centre, which we are already strategically investing in by purchasing major town centre sites.

“We are putting our money where our mouth is and are happy to work with the private sector to make this town centre work for everyone.”

However, the Conservative opposition say the Mr Callaghan should go back to the drawing board on his proposal.

Andrew Baggott, leader of the Basildon Conservatives, said: “This is an ambitious plan and is dependant upon piling high rise flats in high density into the town centre.

“I think this could create a ghetto-style town centre and that there needs to be more infrastructure included in this proposal.

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“I also think that moving the council offices is the last thing we should be doing.”

Basildon Council is set to vote on pushing through the new draft masterplan for Basildon Town Centre at a meeting next Wednesday, May 13.

The plans, which will be up for discussion next week say: “There is an identified opportunity to enhance this area by expanding the theatre to create a different cultural offer and performance space including flexible studio spaces for small performances and rehearsals, with café and bar facilities at ground floor to activate the square.”

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The draft masterplan also includes the £25million pound East Square development with the ten screen cinema, cafes and restaurants.