AN HISTORIAN says the would-be developer of a 17-storey tower block in Basildon has ‘no idea’ of how the new town was designed.

Developer Orwell has appealed to the planning inspector over rejected proposals to build 492 homes in a 17-storey development on land off Market Square in the town centre.

Last week, an inquiry heard from Lucy Malcolm, partner at Montague Evans planning consultancy and a witness called by the developer, that she believed its designer Basil Spence had envisioned taller buildings in the town centre.

However, this notion has been contested by Basildon sculptor and historian Vin Harrop.

“I have studied Basildon, build heritage for a number of years now, and while I’m not one who says it’s wonderful, I can see how it was all conceived by Sir Basil Spence,” the 83-year-old said.

“Sir Basil's sketches show a more futuristic concept than was provisionally built, though his principles of a low-lying town centre apply."

He added: “He is responsible for building Brooke House and for low lying surrounding buildings. That was his original idea which has not been changed and it made Basildon seem different to other new towns.”

Mr Harrop, who has lived in Basildon for more than 50 years and opened the Basildon Arts Centre in1968, says Ms Malcolm’s comments betray the developer has ‘no idea’ about the architectural heritage of Basildon.

Ms Malcom had told the inquiry she believed Brooke House, the 14-storey block built in 1960-62, was not meant to be the only tall building in the town centre.

“I think we have established during the enquiry that there was nothing in the original design intent in Brook House that it was meant to be the only tall building in Basildon,” she said.

“I think that it was never conceived as being anything other than how we see it today,” Mr Harrop responded.

“I happen to like Basildon new town, and I have seen many new towns throughout the British isles, it’s just a shame it was built with vary poor materials and it has started to fall apart. I know it is a pretty dilapidated set of buildings.”

He added: “Now the populace has spoken and, it would seem to me, that through the ballot box the council had a clear mandate to oppose this drift towards high-rise. The people have spoken, which should be honoured.”