A "landmark" 3,500 seat arena in the centre of town is set to be agreed next year and then open its doors in 2028, according to the Basildon Council's leader.

The council is drawing up plans for the South Essex Arena which is set to be built next to the Westgate Shopping Park.

Basildon Council's cabinet discussed the plans at a meeting on September 11. The meeting heard the arena will draw in 300,000 people a year and create hundreds of jobs. The plans were initially drawn up back in 2019 when Gavin Callaghan was previously Labour leader of the council.

Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of the council, said: "We now have the opportunity to put a landmark venue here in the Basildon borough and put us on the map. There is nowhere in Essex that would have a bigger indoor venue than Basildon. This would be the only place for businesses and conferencing events. There is no exhibition space anywhere in Essex on this scale.

"There is something else going on here which is deafening, which is what is the alternative, this has now been going on for six years. If this happens it will transform Basildon Town Centre. This regeneration will go from being about shops, restaurants and flats to being about the best evening, nighttime entertainment venue anywhere in Essex. And we will deliver that for people here in Basildon."

The council agreed to spend £250,000 on a group of experts and other workers to continue to draw up plans. The council is also planning a wider regeneration of the Westgate Shopping Park, with extra care homes for residents over 55 and a new 97 room hotel.

Jessica Power, councillor for regeneration, jobs and skills, told the meeting it's an exciting opportunity to put Basildon on the map.

She added: "It's an opportunity for people to be proud of Basildon and an opportunity for us to thrive. This is our chance to grow our economy and bring people to the town centre. "