LIDL, Greggs, a new Starbucks and a drive-thru Tim Hortons form the backdrop for a huge new retail park delivering a huge boost to Basildon’s economy.
Sitting opposite the Pipps Hill Retail Park, on Miles Gray Road, the new St Hilary’s Retail Park is set to boost the Basildon economy with a string of national chains, which also include Tile Mountain.
Just further down the road on the site of an old burger restaurant, a huge amount of progress has been made at the new Tim Horton’s drive-thru, with the shell of the build now in place and site approaching completion.
Tim Hortons is an Canadian sandwich and burger restaurant and coffee chain.
Although the businesses are remaining tight-lipped on exact opening dates, Tile Mountain previously revealed it was targeting a spring debut, while the German supermarket told the Echo it is hoping to open its doors this summer.
Craig Rimmer, Basildon councillor responsible regeneration, said: “It’s excellent. It’s great for the borough to have the businesses coming in. It’s fantastic.
“I do, and I think it will. Essentially, we are very much in love with our cars and vehicles in south Essex, and there is retail offering to compliment with what is going on in the town centre.
“It’s all progressing well. We expect it to increase the land development value.”
The latest images of the new retail destination show it is heading into the final stages of development.
Freshly-laid tarmac has blanketed a huge forecourt in readiness for the parking bays to be lined, dozens of plants are waiting to be placed into the ground for landscaping, and brackets have popped up on the side of one retail space awning for sign installation.
A stone’s throw away, black cladding has been stuck to the exterior of the Tim Hortons building, while the entrance archway has opted for a cream colour.
With no fittings in sight, materials piled on the future car park and diggers scooping up rubble, there is still a way to go before fans can feast on the chain’s offerings.
Opposite both sites is the Pipps Hill Retail Park.
Big firm giants, including Costa, Subway, Wenzel’s and Burger King have branches placed already here.
The American sandwich brand store manager said she is “not worried” about the competitiveness with the new businesses soon to be landing in the area and is “looking forward to Lidl and Greggs”.
For one small trade, they are hoping to see an uptake.
An employee of a burger van positioned outside St Hilary’s Retail Park, said: “My boss is hoping it’s going to bring more business.”
Speaking from a personal standpoint about their thoughts of the new projects, they added: “I’ve lived in Basildon all my life, and I know we’ve got a lot of shops already but it’s nice; I like it.”
People were quick to share their ideas on what they would like to see at the new retail destination.
One resident passing by said she would “love a Home Bargains, Aldi, M&S Food or a healthy lunch place”, where another stated a “clothes shop”.
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