MORE changes have been revealed for a major housing and shops regeneration project, as a councillor has praised the developer for keeping residents in the loop.

Sanctuary Housing has submitted changes to plans for more than 200 homes, a health centre, a Lidl and other shops in Laindon. The housing association is proposing alterations to the height, roofs, materials, landscaping and parking as it re-looks at the design and construction of the partially constructed Laindon shopping centre redevelopment, off High Road, Laindon. 

It comes after it was announced last month that construction works are set to restart after Highways' plans were agreed upon, at the time a Basildon Council boss dubbed the move as "an important milestone". 

The latest proposed changes include: removing the top floor to apartment blocks A, D, G and H to achieve the sub 18metre rule for the project, keeping the roof massing to match planning but lowering the roofline to reduce the roof void where possible, demolishing existing concrete lift shaft and stair tower at level 5, to avoid unsightly projections on the roof line and blocks E to change to pitched gabled roof pitches instead of flat roof. 

Omitting cladding to blocks D C and F and replacing this with facing brick, enhancing existing planning approved podium landscape including grass, hedges, shrubs, trees and a timber play area and enhancing the landscaping around the Block B parking area, losing some car parking spaces, are also among the changes Sanctuary is planning.

Cllr Jeff Henry, Tory ward member for Laindon Park and Fryerns had praise for the housing firm.

He said: "I think the plans and development is a great thing and also think it's very important and good how the firm has written to residents to update them.

"The sooner this happens the better and the whole development is great news for Laindon. I am sure a lot of the community will get behind this and are behind it when we start to see some action.

"There is a feeling in the community that we will believe it when we see it but I do have confidence in the plans and Sanctuary in Basildon. I do think these feelings are justified but also feel the company has done a great job in writing to residents and I do have confidence in the plans."

The agreed Highways' roadworks are expected to take nine months to complete and traffic management will be in place throughout.

There have been six failed attempts to redevelop the site and area over the last 25 years and Swan Housing demolished the former shopping centre, which was mostly empty, back in 2019. An improved medical centre option will also be available, along with new public spaces for the Laindon War Memorial and Fountain and new hoarding is also being put up around the site where initial works started in December last year.