Councillors in Essex have rejected the advice of planning officers and again refused to back proposals for up to 2,800 new homes in Basildon as part of the redevelopment of the town’s Eastgate Shopping Centre.

It is the second time in seven months that Basildon Council’s planning committee has blocked the outline proposals, created by Leslie Jones Architecture, and the third time the project has appeared before committee members.

The scheme, dubbed Eastgate Quarter, was drawn up for developer InfraRed Capital Partners and retail asset management specialist Sovereign Centros. Basildon Council originally approved the proposals in April 2021, subject to conditions and a Section 106 planning gain agreement.

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