黑洞社区

Basildon is set to lose 拢17m of Homes and Communities Agency funding over the next two years, including about 拢13.5m of housing cash, according to figures seen by 黑洞社区.

Last month, 黑洞社区 reported that the super quango was reviewing all capital spending in the Thames Gateway region and was favouring projects that were expected to get under way within the current spending review period, which ends in 2011.

An internal document from that review focuses on schemes in Essex. It ranks them as high, medium or low priority, with the regeneration of Basildon the main loser.

The low priority schemes, which did have earmarked funding of 拢17m but are now thought unlikely to receive anything, include phase two of the 3,000-home regeneration of Basildon鈥檚 town centre, for which Barratt and Wilson Bowden are sole bidders. This had been set to receive 拢4.5m by 2011.

Also deemed low priority are the 4,500-home mixed-use Gardiners Lane South scheme, which was to have received 拢2.9m, and a scheme, known only as Basildon Housing Project in the document, which looks set to be stripped of at least 拢6m over the next two years. In total, housing-led schemes account for about 拢13.5m of the 拢17m.

Planned land acquisitions of 拢3.25m until 2011 are also identified as low priority.

Nevertheless the 拢2.45m first phase of the town centre development is still rated as high priority, so is likely to go ahead.

Meanwhile, the agency has approved 拢3m of funding for Prospects college in the town and more than 拢500,000 for enabling works.

A spokesman for the HCA said the agency was in 鈥渃onstant dialogue鈥� over funding and 鈥渞egularly reviewed鈥� spending plans.

A spokesperson for the Basildon Renaissance Partnership said it accepted it had to justify its spending priorities.