GRAND plans to create a 400-seat auditorium and place of worship at former Echo offices have been unveiled.
The large two-storey building on Chester Hall Lane, Basildon, was the home of the Echo for 50 years before a new office opened in 2019, just metres away on Howard Chase.
A software company still occupies the first floor and is set to remain in place following the work to overhaul the ground floor.
Religious charity Trinity Chapel plans to overhaul the site, into a “multi-use” conference centre and office.
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The large auditorium would be built alongside meetings rooms for businesses to hire out, a space for weddings and funerals, and worship ceremonies on Sundays.
Around “five or six weddings and funerals” would take place a year, according to documents submitted to Basildon Council.
A spokesman from the charity, said: “Following formal pre-application discussions with the council, we have submitted a planning application which would bring the redundant office and warehouse floorspace back into positive economic use whilst also delivering much needed social and community facilities.
“We are a Christian charity based in Beckton and have been in operation for 25 years in East London.
“We are looking to move to a similar sized property as our tenure at our current location is coming to an end.
“Our members are mainly based in Essex so the proposed location meets our needs.
“Aside from Christian education, we provide a number of community initiatives including social awareness campaigns/ seminars, healthcare packs for the homeless, skill upgrades and enhancement programmes as well as supporting a local hospice. We also run a Love Your Neighbour initiative which provides hot food packs for the homeless in Barking on a weekly basis.
“We will be looking to understand the need in Basildon and provide support to the needy in the area as identified.
“We also provide church services to our members.”
It is hoped construction can get under way in the new year if the plans are given the green light.
The software company will stay on site once the plans are approved with the bulk of work taking place on the ground floor.
A new entrance would be created at the building, specifically for the auditorium.
The charity spokesman continued: “The planning application on the targeted building would result in the conversion of the empty industrial unit into a small-scale facility and the offices being used for our charitable works which include providing education and training courses for residents.”
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