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Laindon
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Laindon Shopping Centre


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Laindon Shopping Centre Laindon Shopping Centre Laindon Shopping Centre
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Location: Laindon shopping centre
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 16/05/2013
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments: One of 3 large welcoming signs.
Location: Laindon shopping centre
Photographer: Stuart Wilson
Year of photo: 27/08/2006
Copyright: Stuart Wilson
Source: Stuart Wilson
Comments: Looking down from the Health Centre.
Location: Laindon shopping centre
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 18/07/2006
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments: High Road, Laindon and Clock House.
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Laindon Shopping Centre Laindon Shopping Centre Laindon Shopping Centre
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Location: Laindon shopping centre
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 15/08/2008
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments:
Location: Laindon shopping centre
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 15/08/2008
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments:
Location: Laindon shopping centre
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 15/08/2008
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments:
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Laindon Shopping Centre    
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Location: Laindon shopping centre
Photographer: Bix
Year of photo: 10/07/2006
Copyright: Basildon History Online
Comments: Laindon shopping centre rear car park.
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Progress on the development of Basildon new town, had until the early 1960s, been largely concentrated on land within the designated area that required little upheaval in respect of existing settlements.

Until development began on the first new housing estate at Laindon in the early to mid 1960s, Laindon had remained relatively untouched, with the exception of the new Laindon Link direct road to Basildon, which opened in the late 1950s.

By the late 1960s the Basildon Development Corporation had begun clearing the area that would become the Five Links housing estate, and were at that time also responsible for providing amenities to serve the new communities. Considerations for a centralised shopping centre in Laindon (then referred to as Laindon Main Centre) had been in the pipeline for some years, with work finally beginning in September 1967, and within 2½ years the first shops began opening in late 1969. The total cost of the new complex, which consisted of 44 shop units of varying dimensions, was put at around £1,000,000. Building contractors Thomas Bates & Son Ltd. were responsible for its construction and that of the Laindon Health Centre, opened in 1971.

A three-storey office block called Clock House with 18,000 sq. ft. of floor space was also built as part of the complex, complete with a clock face and large bell that clangs every quarter. A split level public house called The Joker and operated by the Truman brewery chain, opened in late 1970, was also provided, as was the new Essex County Library, previously at 3 High Road.

The complex was built 18 feet higher than the land abounding High Road which enabled a service road and unloading area to be constructed directly below the shop units. The unloading areas height necessitated the construction of three pedestrian bridges - at High Road, Laindon Link and across the Danacre rear car park access road - as well as a sloping path to ground level for anyone approaching from the southern end. A somewhat obscuring feature of the pedestrianised area to the front of the shop units were seven large white painted ventilation funnels incorporated into the service area below.

From the beginning Wednesday was established as early closing day with many shops shutting their doors at 1:00pm.

The shopping centre had been in the hands of private owners since being sold by the development corporation in June 1972.

In 2008 as part of a regeneration of the Laindon Centre the Clock House office block and the library were demolished. The clock (which had not struck for years) was put into storage at Wat Tyler Park in Pitsea.

Previous owners Lakehill Enterprises announced plans to transform the site with a new supermarket, twenty one additional shops and 138 houses and flats.

In May 2011 Colonnade, now calling themselves Laindon Regeneration, announced plans to transform the site with a Morrisons supermarket, additional shops and restaurants and 215 homes. The cost was put at £75 million.

Following the demolition of Clock House and the former library building owner Colonnade were approached by 'Love Laindon', a local group of volunteers, to rejuvenate the run down centre. Weeds were removed, rubbish bins emptied regularly and this did improve the general look of the centre during its final years. Graffiti artists were invited to work on the wooden hoarding, parts of the car park walls and the wall of Pints and Litres off licence, various empty shop fronts and the ventilation funnels. The graffiti was generally well received though some members of the public claimed it only contributed to the run down look of the centre.

In May 2015 Swan Housing Association took over ownership of the centre and proposed plans to regenerate the area under the name Laindon Place. Plans were announced soon after.

The secondary car park, accessed off Laindon Link, was closed from 8th August 2018 to allow work to begin on the initial stage of the redevelopment.

Laindon Shopping Centre Shops and Clock House History

A history of each shop unit from 1969 - 2019 plus additional information on businesses that traded from Clock House.

Page added: 2006
Other points of interest:

1) Thomas Bates & Son Ltd., The Old Brick Works, Harold Wood, Essex.

2) Larkhill Investments Limited.

3) Colonnade Laindon Limited, Bures St. Mary, Sudbury, Suffolk. Company type and number: Private limited Company; number 05998444. Incorporated: 14/12/2006. Dissolved: 21/10/2014. (Source: Companies House)

4) Laindon Regeneration LLP, Bures St. Mary, Sudbury, Suffolk. Company type and number: Limited liability partnership; number OC324418. Incorporated: 05/12/2006. Dissolved: 28/02/2017. Formerly known as Colonnade Neptune LLP (05/12/2006 - 05/03/2007). Entered Administration 22/05/2013, ended 18/11/2016. (Source: Companies House)

5) Neptune Land (Laindon) Limited. Company type and number: Private limited Company; number: Incorporated: 30/10/2006. Dissolved: 29/12/2009. (Source: Companies House).

6) Swan Commercial Services Limited, High Street, Billericay. Registration type and number : Private limited Company; number 06192065. Incorporated: 29/03/2007. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary company of the Swan Housing Group headed by Swan Housing Association Limited. (Source: Companies House).

7) Swan New Homes Limited, High Street, Billericay. Registration type and number: 05207468. Incorporated: 17/08/2004. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary company of the Swan Housing Group headed by Swan Housing Association Limited. (Source: Companies House).

8) Love Laindon - local volunteer group.
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Text researched and written by William Cox, 2006 with revisions 2012, 2019.
Copyright © 2006, 2012, 2019 B. Cox - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved.

Copyright
Unless otherwise specified, all photographs appearing on the Basildon History website, are the sole property of Basildon History Online and are protected by copyrights and laws. You may not modify, copy, reproduce, upload, transmit, republish, post, publicly display, prepare derivative works based on, or distribute in any way Basildon History's own material without first receiving written permission. You may download photographs, images and text provided it is for your own personal non-commercial home use.

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