A NEW political party has been formed to fight against the number of high-rise properties planned for Basildon.

The Basildon Community Residents Party has been formed by 20 people who believe Basildon Council’s masterplan will create a “high-rise housing estate” in the town centre.

The £1billion masterplan will see an overhaul of the town centre and includes a 5,000-seat arena, 4,000 homes, a £25millon 11-screen Empire cinema and new sites for a larger theatre and council offices.

But the new party believes that residents’ thoughts have not been considered and fear too many high-rise developments could lead to a rise in crime, and the leisure complexes may not be sustainable post-Covid.

Jacob Hogg, 35, the leader of the new party, said: “We need social housing, affordable housing, and housing that helps people up the property ladder.

“We recognise the need for regeneration, but we do not know what it’s going to look like after Covid. Will there be a need for cinemas and arenas? Are they sustainable?”

Mr Hogg said there was “a lot of potential” but believed there were “fire risks” and a “possible increase in crime”.

The masterplan also includes the new £8.5million youth centre set to be built on the site of the car park next to Old Trafford House. Also it includes 535 build-to-rent flats in Town Square, with an existing 1960s three-storey building reconfigured to create four blocks up to 26 storeys.

But Basildon Council leader, Gavin Callaghan, said the party does not have the support and that the homes need to be built away from public green spaces.

He said: “If you say you want only one to two thousand at the town centre and the density says more, you need to be upfront and clear where you would place the surplus.

“There has been 13 consultations. There haven’t been hundreds of people turning up.I have been a councillor for a decade, when people don’t want an application to happen they turn up in their hundreds. They should get on board with this.”

He said it was needed as the town centre “will not survive Covid in its current form”.