BASILDON Council has welcomed the announcement of £40 million in Government funding over the next 10 years through the Pride in Place Programme.
The funding will support major regeneration efforts in the Chalvedon and Laindon areas, focusing on enhancing public services, improving community spaces, developing skills, and upgrading local infrastructure.
Council Leader, Cllr Gavin Callaghan, expressed his enthusiasm about the investment, stating:
“The Government has awarded Basildon £40 million over the next 10 years which is the single biggest investment in our borough’s history.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It’s the kind of backing that doesn’t come around often, and it gives us a real chance to do what we all came into local government to do – make a visible difference for our residents.
“For years, parts of our borough have felt left behind. Communities have told us they’ve not had the same voice at the top table, and that the basics such as clean streets, safer neighbourhoods, community facilities that actually work, have too often felt overlooked. This fund is about changing that. It’s about putting fairness and pride back at the heart of Basildon.
“That means finally delivering projects residents have been waiting for – the Youth Zone, upgrades to community centres, new CCTV, better street signage, tackling nuisance trees, fixing broken pavements. These are the things people notice when they step outside their front doors. When those things aren’t right, residents lose trust. When we get them right, people feel proud of their neighbourhood again.
“I know how hard our teams work, often with very limited resources. This investment gives us a real shot at getting ahead of the curve, not just patching up problems but actually fixing them. But it also raises expectations. People will want to see action quickly, and they’ll want to know their priorities are being heard. That’s where all of us, across every service, have a role to play.
“I want to be absolutely clear – this isn’t going to be money that disappears into consultants’ reports or endless planning documents. It’s going to be spent where residents can see it. And it’s going to be shaped by community voices. Our job is to deliver.
“I also want to say thank you. Wins like this don’t come out of nowhere. I spoke to the Minister of State for Local Government yesterday and she was clear that she is backing Basildon because she believes in Basildon – she’s seen what we have been working on over the last 14 months and is seriously impressed with our vision and dynamism.
“Today is a big day. But tomorrow the hard work starts. I know all too well that residents and businesses will judge us not on the size of the cheque, but on what they can see in their streets, in their estates, and in their daily lives. Together, we are going to deliver that change.
“This is a massive opportunity for Basildon. It’s a chance to restore pride, to put fairness into action, and to show residents that local government can still get things done. Let’s make it count.”
The allocation and use of the funding will be guided by a dedicated neighbourhood panel, which will include representatives from the council and local MPs, and will be chaired by an independent figure to ensure transparency and community involvement.
Cllr Emma Callaghan, Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Performance & Engagement, added:
“This is a real game changer for Basildon. We’ve never had investment on this scale before, and it shows that people across the country can see the potential of our borough.
“I’m really pleased about what this means for Laindon and Pitsea. It will make everyday life better by improving services, fixing up our spaces, and opening up new chances for local people. This funding shows that when you believe in Basildon, good things happen.”
