BASILDON Council is going back to the drawing board and “all options are on the table” over the future of the Brooke House tower block, it has been revealed.

Almost a year after the process of emptying the dilapidated tower block began, the majority of residents have moved out and into new homes.

Basildon Council confirmed only ten council tenants remain in the building, with five waiting on a moving date, and five still waiting on suitable properties.

After residents living in the huge city centre tower block were told they must leave, the previous administration at Basildon Council agreed to go ahead with a £16million refurbishment.

However, the new Labour-led administration has revealed all options for the future of Brooke House are back on the table as they look to ensure “good value for money”.

Kerry Smith, councillor responsible for housing and property, said: “We are looking at everything, every option. When we are talking that sort of money, we have to look at the options. So, all options are back on the table.

“As the building is listed, it makes it even more difficult and expensive. £16 million can buy quite a few more homes. So, every avenue needs to be looked at again. It also only gets more expensive as it goes on.

“A lot of the residents have already got ‘permanent new homes’. They have always got the option to go back, if they want to, but several I have spoken are like ‘no thank you’.”

Residents living in the block have been plagued by leaks, damp and mould for several years, but matters came to a head when the fire service told the council urgent repairs could not be carried out without clearing the building.

Previously, before the former administration made their decision to undertake a full refurb, five options were presented to them by council officers.

This included purchasing the leasehold interests and leaving the building empty, carrying out refurbishment and re-letting all properties, refurbishing and allowing existing tenants to return, refurbishing and selling all flats on the open market or selling the block in its current condition.

A council spokesman added: “The focus is on decanting the building as quickly as we are able and supporting residents into their new accommodation. Officers are constantly reviewing the refurbishment plans in detail to ensure good value for money.”