GROUND has been broken and work is commencing on a major project to turn an abandoned site into 105 new homes after years of delays.

Plans for 35 houses and 70 flats on the former “car park 14” - near the Roundacre roundabout and Basildon train station - were first put forward back in 2020.

Despite delays, shovels are now in the ground at the site and work is underway to build the much-needed new homes.

Sempra Homes, a Basildon Council-owned house building firm, is behind the project, named “Chapelgate”.

Councillors, representatives from Sempra Homes, Homes England and housebuilder the Hill Group, were in attendance to mark the start of work.

Councillor Adele Brown, deputy leader of the council, said the build helps fulfil an “urgent need” to provide more social and affordable homes in the borough.

She said: “There is an urgent need to increase the supply of social and affordable homes in the borough and I am so pleased we are getting on with building the homes we so desperately need.

“New, high-quality housing is a top priority for this administration and events like today show we are taking this challenge seriously.

“Through Sempra Homes, Basildon Council is unlocking its housebuilding programme – getting developments like Chapelgate underway so that we can deliver on our promise to provide Basildon homes for Basildon residents.”

The council have said the Chapelgate development is a “key component” of its efforts to increase housing supply.

Alongside the housing delivery, Sempra Homes is making a financial contribution exceeding £800,000 towards infrastructure.

Melanie Keys, service manager at Sempra Homes, added: “We’re really pleased to reach this milestone on site and see the work begin to deliver these new homes.

“This development has been made possible with the support of several Government funding streams secured including the Brownfield Infrastructure and Land funding, Brownfield Land Release funding and collaboration with Homes England to secure Affordable Housing Programme funding.”