Basildon News
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Shops planned on rat-infested land
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| Wasteland - the development will link Tesco to the main town |
NEW shops and homes are being planned for rat-infested wasteland in Pitsea, linking Tesco Extra to the main town.
The proposal, which is expected to be officially revealed within weeks, is one of three major projects planned for Pitsea.
Basildon Council is also currently in talks with GPs at Dipple Medical Centre, Wickford Avenue, about an extension and the firm who owns Pitsea Market about market improvements.
Steve Horgan, councillor in charge of regeneration, said: "The wasteland is a critical site in Pitsea which will join Tesco with the rest of the town. Of course we want to see it developed.
"The Tudor mansions shops, in Station Lane, will be extended.
"There are no firm figures finalised, but we are talking about several shops and a substantial number of flats. It is quite a large site.
"Discussions are also underway regarding the Dipple Centre. It is a single-storey building and the current owners want a new and improved medical centre."
Last year, the Echo revealed how rats were breeding on the wasteground, between Tesco Extra and Station Lane.
The council believes a new development will clear the problem.
David Abrahall, a Tory councillor for Pitsea South East, told the Echo he feared plans to improve the market had stalled in the past, because of lack of interest from the owner London and Cambridge Properties and market bosses Charfleets.
However, Mr Horgan said: "There was a situation where progress was not being made.
"But we are now in discussions with the market owner, have had a series of meetings which have gone much better, although I cannot yet go into detail about what is planned."
The three projects are part of the Pitsea masterplan regeneration, approved by the council last year.
Mr Horgan said there would be no long-winded procurement process to get a single developer on board like the Wickford and Basildon masterplans, so work could progress through negotiations with landowners and developers.
He added: "Work is progressing already. We certainly have no intention of devising a masterplan and then doing nothing."
7:38am Friday 9th May 2008
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