Basildon Westgate arena plans to be submitted by Christmas

Basildon: Gavin Callaghan, the Labour leader of Basildon Council, has some big news. He confirmed that demolition at the town center site is about to kick off. Residents can expect to see cranes in the sky within the next financial year.

The proposed arena is set to be a hotspot for national tours and events. Basildon Council recently purchased the Westgate Shopping Centre for £18.5 million. This was part of their plan to revive the area and create a new live entertainment venue.

Callaghan mentioned that they’re working on the Westgate masterplan, with the first phase going to planning in May. He’s pretty excited about it, especially with the council’s draft budget for 2025/26 being released.

By Christmas, they aim to have the planning underway for the arena. By January, most of the Westgate site will be ready for residents to check out, except for the area with the Dreams bed store.

Callaghan reassured everyone that they’ll see the first phase of demolition this financial year. The cranes will symbolize that regeneration is finally happening in Basildon. After many false starts, he believes they’re building confidence in the investment community.

Some parts of the current Westgate Shopping Centre have been empty for ages. The leader previously mentioned that the “Essex Arena” would be a regional stop for major tours and events.

In October, there were reports of an unnamed company showing strong interest in building the proposed arena. Alongside the Westgate plans, Callaghan also highlighted that the 2025/26 draft budget protects other leisure assets, like Basildon Sporting Village.

He emphasized that these assets are secured for at least another year, ensuring residents can continue to enjoy them.