PITSEA Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), due to open in spring 2027, is already becoming a focal point for community pride thanks to a new creative partnership with local schools.
Pupils from The Basildon Upper Academy and Northlands Primary School have worked with Creative Basildon to design a vibrant mural which has been painted onto the hoarding surrounding the construction site.
Demolition of the old building has now finished, making way for the two-storey CDC – the largest in mid and south Essex. The centre will be home to an eight-room endoscopy unit, as well as state-of-the-art CT and MRI scanning facilities. Once complete the centre will transform access to critical diagnostic services, allowing patients to receive tests and scans more quickly, leading to earlier detection, faster diagnosis, and improved health outcomes for the community.
The centre will also serve as a hub for wellbeing, with a brand-new activity centre and library, delivered in partnership with Essex County Council and Basildon Council.
While construction is underway and community services are temporarily relocated, the mural project is bringing life and creativity to the site. The artwork, designed by local children under the guidance of Creative Basildon, celebrates Pitsea’s identity and reflects the spirit of community collaboration that underpins the CDC project.
James Currell, Acting Divisional Director for Clinical and Support Services at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Pitsea Community Diagnostic Centre will be a major step forward for mid and south Essex, improving access to vital diagnostic services and creating a welcoming space for the whole community. While construction is underway the mural is a wonderful way to reflect the spirit of Pitsea and remind everyone that this centre is being built for them.”
Councillor Melissa McGeorge, Cabinet Member for Ageing Population and Health, added: “We are pleased to see work on the Pitsea Community Diagnostic Centre proceeding at speed thanks to the work of councillors and it gladdens me to see the borough’s schools working with Creative Basildon on designing the mural for the hoardings.
“This is a massive investment for Pitsea as there will be about 200,000 people using the facility every year – this in turn will boost footfall in the area and will be great for traders, the market and the area as a whole.”
Councillor John Spence, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, Public Health and Integration at Essex County Council, said: “The range of services offered by the new Community Diagnostic Centre, from MRI scans and endoscopies to x-rays and phlebotomy, will make a real difference for those waiting for treatment. It is great to see community pride on display with this mural and we look forward to the works progressing.”
