New 3,500-seat arena will be 'Essex's best'

Basildon Council hopes the town will be transformed by opening a South Essex Arena

A new 3,500-seat arena would become the "best evening entertainment venue" in Essex if built, a council leader said.

Basildon Council voted to press ahead with plans to build the South Essex Arena near the Westgate shopping centre on Thursday.

"If this happens it will transform Basildon town centre," said Labour leader Gavin Callaghan.

But Reform UK councillor Sam Journet accused him of "blowing millions and millions and millions of pounds on a vanity project".

They both spoke during a tense meeting at the council's headquarters, where members agreed to appoint a dedicated project team for the arena.

The local authority purchased Westgate Retail Park in May 2024 for a fee of about £20m.

It announced 97 flats and a 100-bed hotel would be built in a redevelopment of the area.

Councillors later proposed replacing the town's Towngate Theatre with a larger arena fit for hosting "higher-profile" acts.

Gavin Callaghan dismissed claims the arena was a "vanity project"

Speaking at the meeting, Callaghan said it could generate a "massive footfall" for the town by hosting live music, theatre and esports events for up to 300,000 people annually.

"Where we have conferences, business events and all of these dinosaurs, Disney events going off to Chelmsford, that could be in Basildon for our people," he said.

"This regeneration will go from being about shops and restaurants and flats, to being about the best evening, night-time entertainment venue anywhere in Essex."

Callaghan accused rival councillors of mocking the idea and dismissed it was a "vanity project".

'Reckless and indulgent'

Among the sceptics was Conservative Andy Barnes, who said tickets for any event at the venue must be affordable.

Reform leader Journet added: "People can't even walk the High Street without fear. Bins aren't being collected properly and families can't get housing.

"It's reckless, it's indulgent and it proves you're out of touch."

The debate ended with councillors voting to spend £250,000 appointing specialists to design the arena.