Client: Basildon Borough Council/Barratt/Wilson Bowden (BWB)
Date: Phase 1 2012

Basildon is a post war new town originally conceived to absorb the surplus population of post war London; Basildon was designated a new town in 1949 and construction began in 1951. The town centre had suffered from rapid decline over the last decade and CZWG was lead designers to the town centre regeneration team, commissioned by the council and their development partners – Barratt/Wilson Bowden (BWB). The town centre study area covers a total of 72 hectares, an area that includes both the town centre core and its surrounding transition zone.

The strategic vision is to transform Basildon and reinstate the town centre as a significant regional urban centre that meets contemporary and future expectations.

Following appraisal of evidence, the drivers for change were identified as; a greater diversity of use; accessibility, critical mass – density and rationalized development opportunities; the whole grounded in commercial and economic realism. The intended function of the master plan is as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) attached to the Local Development Framework (LDF). The master plan is the vehicle that through commitment will enable the realization of the overall strategic vision and ambitions for the individual regeneration areas.