Brooke House flood: Ten residents in alternative housing

A flood in the basement of the town centre tower block on Friday left several cars partially submerged and caused significant damage to the block’s electrical infrastructure. 

Damage - Electrical infrastructure was damaged in the flood (Image: Contributor) All ten leasehold tenants living in the huge block - which has been emptied over the last 18 months ahead of a £16million refurbishment - are now in temporary accommodation. 

No timeframe has been given for when the residents can expect to move back into the evacuated tower. 

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The 1960s 14-storey building will undergo a huge overhaul once all 84 flats are permanently empty, and Basildon Council has stated its long-term plan for the building is unaffected by Friday’s flood. 

A spokesperson for Basildon Council said: “We can confirm that all ten residents in leasehold flats were moved out by the council on Friday and provided with alternative accommodation.

Submerged - The underground car park was badly flooded on Friday morning (Image: Contributor) Friday’s flood was caused after a mains water pipe burst in the early hours of the morning, causing water levels to rise in the block’s underground car park and basement.

Although the leak was fixed on the same day, damage caused to the building’s electrical infrastructure prompted Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to request a full evacuation.

Response - Crews of engineers worked throughout Friday to control and stop the flooding (Image: George Pizani) The Basildon Council spokesperson added: “The mains water leak has now been fixed, and we are assessing the full extent of the damage caused once all the water has been pumped out and only then we will be able to fully cost and set timescales.

“The council’s plans for the building remain unchanged.”

While £16 million was allocated for the refurbishment of the block in the council's 2025/26 Budget, changes to fire regulations has triggered a revision of plans. 

Essex and Suffolk Water has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the burst pipe, with Carly Gray, head of water networks for the firm, saying: “By the evening of the same day, we had repaired the burst pipe and removed the flood water.

Flood - Essex and Suffolk Water engineers worked to tackle Friday's flood (Image: Contributor) "The water supply to nearby businesses and nearby residents was not affected however we apologise for any inconvenience caused."