BASILDON town centre “could die” without more homes and a £1billion investment package, a councillor fears.

The proposals for Eastgate, submitted by Sovereign Centros and Leslie Jones Architecture, underpin Basildon Council’s £1billion masterplan to overhaul the town centre.

The masterplan includes proposals for a 5,000-seat arena, which could be built on the site of the Westgate Shopping Centre.

Under the masterplan the Towngate Theatre, which is at-capacity, would gain 200 seats and move to East Square.

This would be next to the site where a ten-screen Empire cinema as well as £25 million leisure development with bars and restaurants is being constructed.

The plan would additionally see 4,000 more homes and Basildon Council’s headquarters moved to nearer East Square and the existing site on St Martin’s square becoming a more open public space.

A public consultation on the masterplan closed in mid-July and the plans will then move forward.

David Harrison, chairman of Basildon Council’s neighbourhoods and public spaces committee, said he would welcome more plans for homes in the town centre but would want to see the final application before backing it.

He said: “I am always careful of artists’ impressions. I prefer to wait and see what’s proposed.

“But Basildon town centre needs a masterplan, it’s being dying on its feet for a long time and unless we do it will continue to die.

“We have got to be careful. I think the council having a masterplan it gets more control of the other plans, but it’s important people recognise change is needed.

Tory Andrew Baggott, leader of the opposition, said: “We know something needs to be done, but we do not think it’s 28-storey tower blocks, effectively turning the town centre into a ghetto.”

A spokesman for Sovereign Centros and Leslie Jones Architecture said: “Basildon Council has set out its vision for the town centre which will deliver regeneration, improve employment opportunities and deliver new housing for Basildon.

“The town centre is under the ownership of several different parties, all of whom are committed to the betterment of the town centre.

“Our plans form a part of this ‘jigsaw puzzle’, and we are working with Basildon Council, Essex County Council and other town centre landowners to ensure we are all aligned as we work toward their goals.”