£60,000 to find us masterplan developer (From Echo)

£60,000 to find us masterplan developer

12:43pm Wednesday 21st November 2007 in News By Jon Austin

COUNCIL chiefs are forking out £60,000 on consultants to help them find a developer to regenerate Wickford.

The cash will be used to hire DTZ Consultants, to search for a long-term development partner for the £120million town centre masterplan.

This includes building about 600 homes, a new swimming pool, health centre, library, public square and bringing the market into the town centre.

The London-based firm is already being used on the Basildon £900million masterplan, and helped create the Wickford blueprint in 2004.

Basildon Council's deputy leader Tony Ball said it was money well spent.

He said: "This will help us to attract the millions of pounds of investment needed to revitalise the centre and instil a new pride in the town."

The search is being carried out across the EU and more than 80 developers have already expressed interest.

A shortlist of potential partners will soon be drawn up.

Mr Ball added: "We want Wickford to be a place where residents are proud to live and others want to live."

There is urgent need for investment in the town and we want to make sure residents get the facilities they deserve.

"This will all help to make Wickford a lifestyle centre, which both serves its residents and encourages others to spend their time and money there."

However, Alan Ball, chairman of Wickford Action Group, which is campaigning to reduce the number of flats in the masterplan, was appalled. He said: "This is the firm which drew up the masterplan, and in our opinion got it wrong, with too many flats and high-rise buildings.

"I can't believe it is being used again. Does it not go out to a bid?"

However, Mr Ball stressed there was a selection process and the firm was drawn from an approved list of consultants, held by Government regeneration agency, English Partnerships.