Historic buildings are an integral part of today’s towns and their preservation is an element of basic architecture.

Not that Basildon can be called historic, by any stretch of the imagination, but even new towns with a 60 year old legacy have some buildings that give character to a location and should be saved from demolition.

Blenheim House, for example.

The face of Basildon town centre is about to change forever as the council tries to stem the flow of business to huge shopping complexes, but I wonder what the influx of multinational shops will do to a cosy shopping centre like Basildon?

Will it mean our shopping centre will be cloned like every other and lose its uniqueness? I hope not.

What will happen to our unique Sixties architecture?

As town planning problems like housing, traffic pollution and social inequality increase worldwide, the modern use of historic buildings and the preservation of architectural diversity has gained widespread support in the building industry.

Historic buildings currently form an integral part of Basildon town centre.

Their refurbishment would maintain not only the status quo and character of our town, but also have the capacity to strengthen the town centre’s architectural character.

Finding ways to retain and reuse old structures, despite structural and planning challenges and diversified conservation guidelines, is therefore an integral part of today’s architecture world.

I sincerely hope Basildon Council will rethink its plan to demolish the independent shops in East Walk in favour of much larger premises which these retailers simply cannot afford.

Vin Harrop
Architecture Centre Essex
Rosslyn Road
Billericay