MORE than 27,000 new homes could be built across Basildon over the next 20 years if plans are agreed. 

Basildon Council will look to build 27,111 homes under its local plan if proposals are agreed. The council is currently considering its local plan, which covers the building of homes and regeneration up until the year 2043. 

If agreed the huge proposals would also see a total of 16,928 homes built on green belt land in the borough. The authority has not had an agreed local plan since 1998 and the council scrapped its latest proposals in March 2022, after it had been drawn up over many years by both Labour and previous Conservative-led administrations.

Earlier this month, documents from a council's policy scrutiny committee showed the number of homes identified is the assessed housing need calculated and the local plan includes a minimum of 10,420 affordable homes.

Evidence-based documents for the local plan also show a study into the need for commercial and leisure development shows the projected population growth until 2042 could potentially sustain up to five premium or four budget gyms. 

The council's local plan documents from the meeting also show there are 2,543 agreed developments which are set to be built in the next five years, 2,191 housing projects which are agreed upon but are stalled and long-term deliverable sites and potential for 3,300 homes in urban areas, 

Changes to the planning framework have seen how the housing need is calculated, which has seen the number of homes needed in Basildon over the next 20 years, increase from 21,819 to 27,111 new homes.

The council meeting documents show that if agreed the local plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State in Summer 2025, and it would then go out for independent examination from Autumn 2025. 

In the documents, the council said: "By 2043, we will have accelerated Basildon borough's ambition. We will have developed a prosperous economy providing employment for our residents, including higher value jobs.

"We will have delivered a wide range of housing for all our resident's needs. By 2043, we will have delivered sustainable development, protected and enhanced our historic and natural environment and delivered on our biodiversity net gain obligations. By 2043 we will have mitigated the impact of climate change.

"The borough will be safer, and residents will benefit from higher standards of health and wellbeing. There will be an improved cultural offer within our regenerated town centres with enhanced housing, retail, leisure and community facilities. There will be a higher level of educational attainment and aspiration in the borough. We will have created more resilient communities, reflecting the diversity within the Borough."