Representatives from Sempra Homes, the subsidiary company of Basildon Council, were joined by Baroness Taylor, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government), and Basildon Council’s leader, Councillor Gavin Callaghan along with representatives from Homes England and construction partner, The Hill Group, to mark the significant milestone in the construction of 105 new homes at Chapelgate in Basildon with an official topping-out ceremony.
The development, on the former Basildon, Car Park 14, site will provide 70 apartments across two blocks for social rent, with priority given to Basildon residents, directly addressing the housing need in the borough.
Additionally, 35 homes will be available for private sale all prioritised for borough residents. The homes will vary in size, offering two, three and four-bedroom options.
Baroness Taylor said: “I’m delighted to be in Basildon to witness these enormous strides in your regeneration. What a delightful little community of homes has been built here in Chapelgate, and to such a high standard. My congratulations to all those involved.
“As a former Council Leader of Stevenage, Britain’s first ever Attlee new town, places like Basildon, the 9th, are very close to my heart. The belief in Basildon here is obvious and the prospects for returning the town to its former glory are immense. Basildon is obviously doing its share in meeting the government’s ambitious national housing target. Without new homes, and a lot of them, we can’t have the growth our people need to thrive and prosper.”
Councillor Gavin Callaghan, Leader of Basildon Council, said: “Basildon Council is building council homes for Basildon people. We promised to tackle the housing crisis, and we promised to put Basildon people first. With these new homes here in Chapelgate, and many others like them, we are keeping those promises. I’m very grateful to Homes England and the Government for willing the means to let us create these lovely homes.
“And this scheme will also be helping many people currently living in temporary accommodation, at great cost to the council, into a permanent home so they are able to restart their lives.
“It’s a scandal that 10,000 young people in Basildon are still living with their parents with their life’s ambitions stunted, unable even to start building their own families. We will unlock the housing market with more new homes and enable those currently blocked from starting out on life’s ladder to reach for their dreams, and to do so in Basildon as members of our community, among their own friends and family.”
Melanie Keys, Service Manager at Sempra Homes comments, “We are delighted to reach this point in the delivery of these much-needed new homes for the local community. Our Chapelgate development will not only deliver these homes but also support the revitalisation of Basildon’s town centre, as well as providing employment opportunities for apprentices, local labour and supply chain.”
Robert Jack, Regional Director at The Hill Group, said: “Reaching the highest point in the 6-storey building at Chapelgate, is a fantastic achievement and a significant milestone for Basildon to celebrate. We are constructing 105 new high-quality, affordable homes for our long-standing partners at Sempra Homes. The design has sustainability at its heart, with a fabric first approach to increased insulation and energy retention. The project incorporates solar panels, Mechanical ventilation heat recovery as well as air source heat pumps throughout.
This development has effectively utilised local labour employing over 63 local operatives throughout the project to date and offered significant opportunities for apprentices to develop their skills and training with over 200 apprentice weeks and counting since the project commenced. We are on track to complete this project ahead of time with first handovers commencing in the later part of 2025 and completion anticipated in spring 2026. Hill are proud to be working with Sempra and being the first major part in their “New vision for Basildon” and its regeneration of the town centre, to aid Basildon Council meet their demand for social housing.”
The development has been made possible through support from various Government funding streams, to unlock delivery, including the Brownfield Infrastructure & Land Funding (BIL), Brownfield Land Release funding (BLRF) and collaboration with Homes England to secure Affordable Housing Programme funding.
Sempra Homes is also committed to delivering social value, with over £28 million of inward investment. The development is creating numerous opportunities for residents and businesses, including employment, training, apprenticeships, and the use of local suppliers. To date, the development has provided 90 weeks’ worth of apprenticeship placements and 50 weeks of local labour with 12 local jobs created. Alongside delivery of the new homes, the development will also support the revitalisation of Basildon’s town centre, as well as providing employment opportunities for apprentices, local labour and supply chain
Beyond housing, Chapelgate aims to enhance Basildon’s town centre with improvements to local infrastructure, open spaces, and biodiversity enhancements, while also increasing footfall to benefit local businesses.
In addition to delivering new homes, Sempra Homes is contributing over £850,000 towards local infrastructure. This funding will support a variety of community services, including NHS healthcare provision, early years and childcare services, primary and secondary schools, open spaces, culture, play and sports facilities, highways and pedestrian access, and sustainable transport. These contributions reflect Sempra Homes' commitment to not only building homes but also enhance the wider community.
The Chapelgate development is a key component of Basildon Council and Sempra Homes’ broader strategy to improve housing supply and community infrastructure while ensuring sustainable growth in the area.
