Basildon’s Eastgate Shopping Centre redev approved on appeal

The masterplan for the redevelopment of Eastgate Shopping Centre in Basildon into a mixed-use scheme providing 2,800 homes has been approved on appeal after being rejected by Basildon Council. The developer of the scheme, InfraRed Capital Partners, acquired the Essex shopping centre in 2014 for £88.6m from British Land. The Leslie Jones Architects-designed 25-acre brownfield site redevelopment will comprise private sale flats, build-to-rent homes, student accommodation, later living and co-living. The Eastgate Quarter scheme also includes 51,720 sq ft of retail, food and beverage, leisure and office use at the ground-floor level, as well as a transport hub. The proposals were submitted to Basildon Council in 2020 and the council had resolved to approve them subject to conditions and a section 106 planning gain agreement in April 2021. Soon after, however, the council leadership changed and the new administration opposed the scheme, in part on the grounds that only 5% of the homes would be affordable. Following the non-determination of the project, it was formerly rejected in December 2021. Planning inspector Mark Dakeyne, who has now approved the development, said: “The proposal would be unlikely to contribute to the current five-year supply, taking into account likely lead in times. However, it would be able to make a significant contribution of up to 2,800 dwellings in the medium term. “This is in the context of a council that has persistently underdelivered and is without an emerging plan to remedy the shortage of supply. There seems little prospect of the council getting an adopted plan in place before 2025, and even that seems optimistic given the track record.” Dakeyne added: “Although affordable housing provision could be as little as 5%, this figure is supported by viability information. There is a prospect of a mix of tenure types within the development, as flagged by the s106. “The development would make a significant contribution to meeting housing needs, in the context of a very serious shortfall in supply, resulting in substantial social benefits.” Iceni Projects worked with the developer as a planning consultant. To send feedback, e-mail akanksha.soni@eg.co.uk or tweet @AkankshaEG or @EGPropertyNews Photos © Leslie Jones Architects