A regeneration scheme that is costing over £200million has at last got under way. Bulldozers started demolishing empty properties as residents gathered to watch the start of work that will see six-hundred homes demolished to make way for new housing.
Residents expressed their joy at seeing the first steps of the huge project begin and all of them firmly believe the new development will make their area a much more pleasant place to live. New homes will be built in place of the demolished houses, with the first expected to be finished early in 2013. The Craylands Estate is located in the South East of Basildon and was built in the 60s as a medium density estate with a mix of four storey flats, terraced blocks, shops and community facilities. Now over four decades old, the estate has over time developed a reputation for poor quality housing and inadequate social amenities.
Maggie Forder has lived on the estate for 28 years and she said: “I’m absolutely overjoyed and can’t believe it’s finally happened. This is the first big change we’ve seen on this estate and it’s going to change it for the better. Nobody wants to have empty homes where they live. There has been a lot of trouble on the estate over the years, so it’s nice to see a new beginning. There is community spirit in parts already, but I hope this improves the community spirit over the whole estate and gives people a better place to live.”
Developer Swan Housing are working with Basildon Council and the Homes and Communities Agency on the project. All three are delighted to see the demolition begin and they see it as evidence that real progress has been made. Now the project managers will turn their attention to renovation, house building and of course landlord insurance as residents are rest assured the process is now more than just a pipe dream.