DEVELOPERS are poised to start work on four tower blocks with 495 homes on the old M&S in Basildon town centre, the Echo understands.

Two years ago, planning permission was approved at appeal to build four high-rise blocks and hundreds of homes in Town Square.

No work has taken place since but now developers Marson Property and Basildon Estates have submitted a planning application sharing minor details of the plan, denoting that work may start soon.

Craig Rimmer, who was councillor responsible for economic stimulus until he lost his seat at the recent election, believes hoardings will go up “very soon” around the site ahead of work beginning.

As part of the plan, the old M&S will be demolished. Flats will be built on top of a number of other shops including B&M.

Mr Rimmer said: “To be honest it is an inevitability really now. They will be finessing final points to then get on with it.

“There have been cases of viability issues with a lot of these tall buildings, so now the climate is a bit different in terms of stabilisation of costs, they can go forward.

“I believe and expect that hoardings will go up very soon from my understanding.

“I still don’t like the plans. It is slightly more sympathetic to the town and some of our needs in wanting better homes for people, but people would prefer to have houses than flats, and if flats, they want larger ones, rather than these.

“A lot say for college students to have places, but a lot of them just live at home.

“But it has been approved, so there are no other options unfortunately in the system where we have unaccountable planning inspectors not taking account of local opinion or what is needed by people in the area.”

Prior to being approved at appeal by the Government’s planning inspectorate in March 2022, the plans proved controversial and were thrown out by the council over the “height, scale, character and appearance” of the blocks as they were branded "giant" by councillors.

It comes after construction works began on a 492-home tower block plan at the former Wetherspoon pub site in Basildon town centre. These works are expected to last around three years.

Marson Property and Basildon Estates have been contacted for comment by the Echo.