£100m revamp under way (From Echo)

£100m revamp under way

5:05pm Wednesday 7th March 2007 in Search By Jon Austin

WORK has begun on a £100million luxury homes and restaurants development which is set to transform the face of Wickford.

Bradgate Developments has started constructing Riverside Place - a six-storey 173 flats complex and cafe-lined square over looking the River Crouch - in Lower Southend Road, hailed as the beginning of the Wickford Town Centre masterplan revamp.

Tory Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley began demolishing buildings in the road with a digger, including pensioners' day centre the Priority Club, whose members have been relocated.

Bradgate director Ray Ride, a Conservative councillor for Chelmsford Council, said: "This is the first phase of a regeneration scheme which will bring community benefits.

"We are talking about £35million of investment and around £100million in total over the second and third phase.

"It will enhance the town Centre by providing a new civic square with much required new restaurants."

Fifty one apartments will be built during stage one and most of these have already sold to Wickford residents for between £185,000 and £225,000.

They will include secure gated parking, sun balconies overlooking the river and lifts to all floors.

Riverside pathways will be created, a refurbished and CCTV monitored subway from Southend Road and the Priority Club will move to the new complex.

The later phases, including relocating existing businesses including the Royal Mail sorting office, are expected to follow fairly quickly.

However, the firm is still in talks over this and compulsory purchase orders have not been ruled out.

The total cost of the masterplan was originally estimated at £100million, a figure now expected to soar.

Mr Buckley, who toasted the work at a champagne reception, said: "It takes this sort of investment to give Wickford the vibrant economy people want.

"This is a first very clear step towards delivering the Wickford masterplan."

Alan Ball, chairman of Wickford Action Group, which campaigns against the masterplan said: "We do not want a development of this scale in Wickford. Six stories is too high. This will be discussed at our next meeting."