The interior of a former pub near Basildon Town Centre is being pulled apart and gutted as work begins to demolish it and surrounding buildings.
The Moon on the Square pub, once operated by Wetherspoon, is being pulled apart from the inside currently, as work begins to strip the interior ahead of its total demolition to facilitate a complete redevelopment as part of the Basildon town square masterplan.
Plans to replace the building with tower blocks containing 492 homes were approved by a planning inspector in 2021.
Another scheme for 495 new homes was approved by way of an appeal two years ago, and will see two more tower blocks built at Town Square.
According to a timeline, the work will take a total of 156 weeks.
Adele Brown, Labour councillor responsible for planning and infrastructure believes that, regardless of opinions on the tower blocks, the town centre needs regeneration.
She said: “Clearly we have had an ambitious plan for the town centre but over the past three years, we have seen no progress being made, places are closing and the town centre has become a pale version of itself.
“We are working to regenerate it which is exciting.
“The plans on this building got planning permission under the Tories, there has been no way for us to stop them but it is clear the town centre does need regeneration, we don’t have a package for residents, be that retail or leisure.”
Ms Brown added that the introduction of Kim Bromley-Derry CBE as interim chief executive, who “has a massive portfolio of mass regeneration” is a promise of an “exciting” time ahead for the town.
As well as the closure of the pub, the subway next door has closed and the Lloyds bank relocated.
The pub closed its doors in September 2022, the worst-rated Wetherspoons in Essex on Tripadvisor but loved by many in the town.
Wetherspoons will be making a grand return to the town with the King of Essex pub which is set to open this year in the site of the former Poundworld.
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