WORK at a £50million development has ground to a halt with plans surrounding a new medical centre still up in the air.

The Laindon Place development, replacing a former shopping centre, will also include a new shopping parade, a health centre and 224 homes.

However, plans have been put on hold as developer, Swan Housing, applies for additional planning permission over highways elements of the scheme.

It is hoped the pause will allow the developer to strike a deal over plans for a medical centre.

The design of the medical centre has been a sticking point in negotiations.

Bob Taylor, 74, said: “It is frustrating and probably is for them too, these plans have been 20 odd years in the making. We’ve been waiting so long for the shopping centre to be sorted out and now there is another delay.

“Laindon needs a boost like this, especially after Covid, and this will supply so many houses too. But at least we’ve been informed what is happening.”

Laindon Councillor Jeff Henry is pushing for the delay to be resolved as quick as possible.

He added: “Nobody wants this, and we just need to get it done. Residents are understandably feeling anxious about it.”

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It comes after six failed attempts to regenerate the site over the last 25 years by a host of different developers, before Swan Housing took the reigns on the project.

A Swan spokesman, said: "We really cannot wait to build a fantastic new Laindon Place, with the new High Street, new public spaces and new homes, so we’re asking everyone to please bear with us while we take the time to make sure we get Laindon Place, just right. 

"Having made fantastic progress despite Covid-19, the next step for us is to apply for a new planning permission for the scheme which will authorise:

1. Changes to the highways scheme that are required by Essex County Council

2. Construction of the homes using Steel Framed Modular construction, rather than wood as originally planned, to reflect changes in regulations since we obtained planning consent.

3. A number of design efficiencies as a result of moving to steel-framed construction which may allow us to include additional homes.

"This means that, while the local community will see a pause in onsite activity, our teams will be continuing to work in partnership with Basildon Council to bring forward this planning application.

"We are also using this pause to try to resolve the negotiations regarding the new medical centre, as despite our best efforts, we have been unable to agree a way forward on this with the parties involved to agree the design of the new centre.    

"At Swan we are committed to delivering a High Street led regeneration and we’re delighted that the new steel framed modular homes will be built in our new, second, modular housing factory in Basildon. 

"We will continue to update the local community through our website www.laindonfutures.co.uk and our regular newsletters and would like to thank everyone for their continued support."

A Basildon Council spokesman, said: “We will continue to work with Swan and resolve any changes to the scheme through the relevant planning permission route."