PLANS are being drawn up to reopen the site of a former M&S department store, according to a new council leader.

Councillor Andy Barnes, leader of Basildon Borough Council, said he was in talks to reopen part of the site in Basildon Town Centre.

The council is looking to sell off the Grade II-listed Brooke House, a 14-storey high-rise built in the 1960s with 84 flats as part of the deal.

Cllr Barnes says the developer behind plans for 495 new flats at the former M&S site, which shut in spring 2018, is also looking to buy Brooke House.

The former M&S store

Cllr Barnes added that partly reopening the site "could be a relatively straightforward process."

He said: "If the deal all slots into place, we will have a permanent tenant in there, a business which will cover all the costs the council has incurred. Then we can look at other options for the rest of the building."

He also said the deal must have "community and commercial benefits" and that it needs to "benefit" the residents.

He called it "an ongoing deal" and said it would be "ideal" to get the building reopened in six months' time.

It comes after two floods at Brooke House last summer, which meant the last remaining residents, who were private tenants, were moved into temporary accommodation.

Back in spring 2022, plans were agreed at appeal for a block of up to 23 storeys with 265 flats and another block of up to 230 homes at the site of the former Marks and Spencer.

Residents are hopeful the large former store will reopen.

Becky Brockleman, 44, said: "I'd like to see restaurants and bars and also perhaps some soft play or something for children. I really hope we do see the council do this deal, as reopening it will make a big difference to the town centre."