Eastgate Shopping Centre (Basildon) - The Genesis of A New Town

The Genesis of A New Town

The development of Basildon as a new town began during the fifties and was based upon creating housing and employment for residents, many of whom moved from London. Many large companies moved to the town as industrial estates sprung up on the outskirts of the town with a modern road system to provide links to the major trunk roads, the A127 and the A13. Although mergers, acquisitions and the restructuring of manufacturing industry have since changed the profile of local businesses the industrial areas remain a major source of employment in south east Essex.

Development of Basildon Town Centre also dates from the fifties and by 1970 it comprised 70 acres (280,000 m2) and 205 stores of all sizes totalling 1,100,000 sq ft (100,000 m2) of retail space. It was one of the largest pedestrian precincts in Britain, with entertainment and leisure facilities, an open-air market, car parking for 5,000 vehicles and bus and railway stations. By the mid-1970s, shopping and commercial facilities had not kept pace with an expanding population and increased visitors. A decision was therefore taken by Basildon Development Corporation to dedicate more space to better shopping facilities to give Basildon added status as a major town centre for retailers. The concept of Eastgate thus emerged.

Today the borough of Basildon has a population of more than 160,000 residents. The town centre is a leading shopping destination in the southeast of England with over 300 units, and with Eastgate Shopping Centre at the core of retailing.