DOZENS of new flats are set to be built above shops in Basildon town centre, if new plans get the go ahead.

Developers have revealed the proposals for the 37 apartments to go above East Walk and Southernhay in the town.

Currently there is nothing above the shops and if given the thumbs up, the flats will have to be built from scratch.

Councillor Andrew Buxton, a Labour councillor for St Martin’s, said: “It’s a difficult one.

“People do need housing, but where they are proposing to build these places there is no proper parking facilities at all.

“There is a car park behind but people who move into these flats are going to have two or three cars.

“Where are they going to park them?

“It’s in the town centre as well but is it a nice place to live?

“You have all the noise from the traffic.

“It just seems like a crazy idea.”

The block of shops, which sits in East Walk and Southernhay, was built in early 1962.

It currently houses independent shops such as Café Cinco, Spoon World Buffet and Bar and Countrywide Mortgage Services.

Nothing has ever been built above it.

It is not the first time flats have been a contentious idea in Basildon town centre.

In January, plans were revealed to turn four-storey office block Acorn House, in Great Oaks, into 53 apartments, with a further nine to be built on a new fifth floor.

And last year plans were revealed to transform Phoenix Place, in Christopher Martin Road, into 27 flats.

Mr Buxton said: “These laws the Government brought in to convert offices into flats is crazy.

“There’s no proper infrastructure in place, which we are desperate for.

“The question is will people want to live there?

“We do need to build more places but is this the right location for new flats?

“I realise the town centre is changing but infrastructure needs to be looked at if this goes ahead.”

Basildon Council will have the final say on the new flats and a decision is expected to be made in the coming months on whether plans are approved.