BASILDON Council is searching for a construction firm to take on a £6million contract to build desperately needed social housing in some of the borough’s most deprived areas.

Stalled plans to build a block of nine flats in Ryedene, Vange, four homes in Pound Lane, Pitsea, as well as two homes in the Burstead area are set to get of the ground once a developer is found to take on the project.

The £6 million contract starts on September 1, 2024, and ends on September 18, 2025, and includes clearing the areas, building the homes, as well as landscaping works and creating parking.

The plans for flats in Rydene, behind Ryedene Primary School, were first announced in 2022 and were controversial for being on a brownfield site immediately behind the school.

Pitsea South East Tory candidate, Yetunde Adeshile, believes that, while issues may be posed for the school and the surrounding area, it is essential for Basildon to have more social housing to tackle a huge waiting list.

She said: “Looking at our social housing waiting lists, this is something that needs to be worked on and whatever decision is being made will lead to some people being happy and others not.

“All across Basildon, social housing is badly needed and particularly in Vange, we need it and this is a welcomed opportunity for us here.

“It should go ahead and when it does go ahead, I trust that the council will look after the infrastructure to support the families moving into the area.

“However, the flats will be going behind a school so there is a potential for issues, we need to make sure those are assessing prior to the time and the parking strategy for the borough is also being developed.”

Ms Adeshile added that the council cannot shy away from families with young children who need social hosing and must “prioritise them and what is required for Basildon.”

“This is all about look after people the best we can, knowing it will be hard to please everyone in Vange and in the borough.”

Yetunde Adeshile (Con) is a candidate in Thursday’s election for the Pitsea South East ward. Other candidates include Gary Canham (Con) and Craig Rimmer (Con) against Linda Harrison (Ind), Christopher Hilleard (Lab), Gillian Palmer (Lab), Ben Westwick (Lab), Steven Spowart (Lib Dem) and Steven Willis (Green). Three councillors will be elected to the ward.