'Regeneration'
The 'regeneration' of Pitsea town centre is under way. In May 2013, the well-known landmark, The Railway Hotel public house, suffered the same fate as another local pub (The Fortune of War), and was pulled down. The Pitsea Swimming Pool was pulled down in January 2013. The regeneration is said to include an enlargement of the existing Aldi supermarket. This may involve the moving of Pitsea market nearer to the Tesco Extra superstore, perhaps using the site of the Railway Pub, as well as the building of pubs and bars to introduce a nightlife to the centre of Pitsea.
Pitsea Market moved from its original site in Station Lane to the infamous 'Pitsea Domes' and then onto its placement between Pembroke House and The Railway Public House. Although still busy, the number of market stall holders had declined perhaps as a result of the recession, but also perhaps the uncertainty of the 'regeneration'. With regeneration underway in 2013, the future could see the market given a new lease of life.
Most of the current Pitsea Centre is now beginning to look old and in dire need of a makeover. The centre which was completed in the late 1970s is a main focal point for local people; however a recent decline has seen a number of businesses leave, and on days when the market is not in the centre it is left looking somewhat of a ghost town. The market was leased by Charfleets from its owners in the mid-1990s and they introduced the Sunday market to a grand opening with both Essex FM and comedian Bobby Davro entertaining the happy shoppers. However recent events regarding its owners has left the market facing a perilous future and this could again hinge around the redevelopment of the centre. It is thought that among the development more homes would be built within the centre, along with more, larger shops.
The Station Lane redevelopment was completed in 2012, and is a prominent landmark that can be seen for miles on approach to Pitsea. A large L-shaped building, it comprises five ground-floor retail units (only one occupied as at 10th May 2013), 121 flats, and resident parking for 126 cars and 109 bikes.
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