MULTI-million pound plans to transform Basildon town centre can be viewed by residents when a two-week public consultation begins.

Radical changes that could see the Towngate Theatre and Basildon Centre demolished and rebuilt, Gloucester Park linked to the town centre and hundreds of new flats will go on display from Saturday, February 11, until the 25th.

The draft Basildon Town Centre Develop-ment Framework was been produced by consultants DTZ Pieda, who have also devised the controversial £100million Wickford Town Centre Masterplan.

A Basildon Renaissance partnership spokesman said: "This is one of the biggest pieces of work to have been undertaken in the district in recent years and will set out the long-term vision for Basildon town centre and the development and regeneration that could make the vision a reality.

"This will help guide Basildon Council planning policy for the town centre, encourage developers and investors, attract new businesses and offer visitors a better experience."

Exhibition boards, a presentation and large-scale model of how the town centre could be regenerated will be on show in the former Boys Base shop unit, opposite the ground-floor information desk of the Eastgate Centre.

Between February 11 and 25 the town centre officer and consultant team will be on hand to answer questions and encourage visitors to fill in a comments form.

Published Tuesday, February 7, 2006