AMBITIOUS plans to change the face of Basildon won national praise as they were named among the best in the country.

The £900million redevelopment of Basildon will see a new 12-screen cinema, new shops, 2,000 homes, a new bus station, a hotel and High Street market built in the town centre over the next 25 years.

According to leading trade magazines Regeneration and Renewal and Planning, the plans to revamp the town have been placed at number 19 in the top 20 projects across the UK to gain planning permission in the last year.

The magazine judged the building projects on their overall value as they were “realistic” plans and “genuinely set for development”.

Tony Ball, Baildon Council’s leader, said: “We are delighted Basildon town centre has made the top 20, and is in fact, the second highest town centre project in the list.

“It just goes to show what a great investment location Basildon is, and is testament to the hard work and vision the council has shown.

“While town centre projects up and down the country have failed, Basildon continues to move forward. We look forward to continuing to work hard to regenerate the borough and town centres that will help to create opportunity for local people and businesses.”

The Olympic Park in East London, which cost £6.9billion to build, won top place.