Plans to build more than 100 homes on an Essex town's abandoned car park are due for a decision next week.

The bid by Sempra Homes, Basildon Borough Council's commercial housing arm, is set to be voted on by the planning committee on Wednesday, 14 December.

If approved, the former "car park 14" in Basildon will be transformed into a residential development including 105 houses and flats.

According to a council report published ahead of the meeting, apartment blocks at the site could reach up to six storeys tall. 

A section read: "The application site comprises a disused car park, as well as open space which has previously been identified to be removed from the council's open space provision due to its poor quality nature."

The report continues to say there is a need for housing sites in the borough and the council cannot currently demonstrate a five year housing land supply. 

Consequently, the site has been deemed acceptable for redevelopment and in keeping with the surrounding area by officers.

The site originally contained a small number of houses, but was converted to a car park for the Westgate retail park in the early 2000s. It has been closed for roughly 10 years and has since become overgrown, according to the statement.

Earlier plans to build 233 homes at the site were withdrawn in September 2021.

Additionally, there is no affordable housing planned for the site. A viability assessment, conducted independently of the council, has claimed it would be unviable to provide any affordable housing.

A design and access statement submitted alongside the proposals, the car park 14 site, now being referred to as "Chapelgate", is of strategic importance due to its location between Laindon Link and Nether Mayne. 

A section read: "Due to its setting and strategic location to Basildon town centre, the Chapelgate site provides an opportunity for an extension to the existing town centre community and to provide high quality housing and amenity for the residents of Basildon."