Council told town's new arena will cost about £50m

A 3,500-seat arena proposed to help increase footfall in a town centre would cost about £50m, with councillors warned similar venues "aren't necessarily that successful".

Basildon Borough Council said the events venue could replace the existing Towngate Theatre, which it purchased for about £20m in May 2024.

In September, Labour's council leader Gavin Callaghan said it could generate a "massive footfall" for the town by hosting live music, theatre and esports events.

Both Reform UK and the Conservatives have criticised the project amid concerns about its likely success and costs involved.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillors and council officers discussed the plans at a regeneration and economic development scrutiny meeting on Wednesday.

Explaining the proposals, Jonathan Tazzard, assistant director of property, assets and development said the plans were partly inspired by similar venues in Swansea, Cardiff and Derby, which "aren't necessarily that successful".

Speaking of the possible benefits, he said the venue could increase the town's footfall from areas outside Essex.

"It's a good reason to come to Basildon, 3,500 seats is a number we came to after some previous consultancy, because it will attract the sort of acts which have a very regional pull," said Tazzard.

"As part of a wider town centre strategy, we want a leisure and culture lead offering, apart from the Towngate there's not much else at the moment in the town centre."

In October, the council's planning committee agreed the first phase of the council's overhaul of the Westgate Shopping Park, which included a new seven-storey 95-bedroom hotel with a rooftop bar and a block of 97 one and two-bedroom flats.

Jessica Power, councillor responsible for regeneration, jobs and skills, told the meeting: "Town centres have changed, they are not the shopping venues people used to have as town centres.

"But by having that leisure lead and cultural lead regeneration, that footfall comes to the town centre, which then may bring some of those retailers... so hopefully it will increase Basildon as a destination."

Reform's leader Sam Journet previously described the arena project as "reckless", and "indulgent".

The Conservatives had called for ticketing for events to be affordable.

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