A BUSINESSMAN believes a £25million plan to build a multi-storey car park, flats, shops and hotel could be completed within five years.

But Trevor Draper, who owns two shops in Billericay and is chairman of the chamber of commerce, was unable to detail how the project would be funded.

The plan involves building an 805-space multi-storey car park, a 60-room four or five-star hotel, 70 flats and shops on the Radford Way railway station car park.

Mr Draper said it would alleviate the town’s parking problems and “preliminary drawings and costings” had been done.

He said: “We have a very poor level of parking for the size and popularity of the town. We have investigated the costs and let’s just say we have done our research and looked at it from a practical standpoint.

“It’s viable. You are talking anywhere between two and five years from consultation to completion of a project this size.”

Adam Keating, spokesman for the Basildon Renaissance Partnership, said the council had been working with Mr Draper.

He added: “EU funding will allow a detailed action plan to be developed, based on local consultation with the chamber of commerce, traders and expert industry advice. A brief for this work is being drafted and the project will begin in the New Year.”