Basildon Urban District Council transfer some of their departments to temporary demountable style buildings at Fodderwick in the Town Centre. The site, which was later expanded, would remain in council use until the 1990s when it was finally cleared for the Westgate Shopping Park development.

Pitsea Congregational Church hall at Rectory Park Drive, Pitsea demolished. The church had fallen into a state of disrepair after being sold when a new building doubling as a church and hall along with a manse was built at Honeypot Lane, Fryerns in Basildon in 1960.

Land at Marsh Road, Pitsea purchased by Basildon District Council. The land was later used for tipping, water recreational purposes and light industry. It is now the site of Wat Tyler Country Park

Basildon Urban District Council establish a nursery at Pound Lane, Laindon. The nursery site, of around three acres, had been acquired this year from a single land owner as a replacement for the council's former site at Selworthy Nursery, Kennel Lane, Billericay which was wanted by South Green Primary School for their new playing field. In the late 1990s the council closed the nursery and developed the land into a small housing estate built around Nursery Gardens.

The Five Bells roundabout at Vange becomes operational. The existing course of the road, which forms part of the A13 route, was retained and a new Fobbing junction created off a new straight section linking London Road to Southend Road. By virtue of the two straight lengths the roundabout was oval in shape with an open water culvert running diagonally through the majority of the centre land. In the early 1970s an additional junction was created when the A13 Vange and Pitsea bypass opened. Another A13 bypass completed in May 1993 saw the road re-routed west of the Five Bells from Morley Hill and an underpass and three smaller roundabouts were created which replaced the existing roundabout.

The Play Leadership Scheme for children up to 14 introduced by Basildon Council. The first centre opened at Fryerns and soon sites at Ghyllgrove, Laindon and Wickford were operating. The schemes popularity later prompted the council to build permanent centres at Clay Hill Road (Kingswood), Laindon Link (Markhams Chase), Roodegate (Gloucester Park), Worthing Road (Laindon), Kent View Road (Vange) and Mill Green (Chalvedon). It continued to run well into the 1980s but was later replaced with a new Playweb children's holiday club scheme for those aged between 5 and 12.

7th January

Basildon Boys' Club's headquarters in Fairview Road, Barstable officially opened. Work on the new headquarters began in May 1963 and was completed by around November at a cost of £10,000, largely by a volunteer workforce. Local MP, Edward Gardner, Q.C. performed the official opening duties on behalf of the club, which was founded the previous year. The new building, known as Pembury Hall, served the club for years along with the local community where it was available for hire to organisations and individuals. It was later destroyed by fire in November 2002, by which time its address had changed to Clayburn Circle. The site is now covered by three-storey blocks of residential flats called Pembury Place.

15th February

Basildon Ambulance station in Great Oaks opens. The opening ceremony was performed by the Chairman of Basildon Council, Councillor Alf Dove. The station had previously been attached to the area clinic adjacent to Craylands County Secondary School in Timberlog Lane (later Craylands).

29th February

Ford Motor Company open their new Tractor Plant factory in Cranes Farm Road on a 100 acre site. Tractor production began later in the year and the plant was officially opened on 27th April 1965. Its 125ft high spheroid shaped water tower has a diameter of 45ft and is capable of holding up to 200,000 gallons. It is known locally as the "onion" and has since become a local landmark. Prior to opening, the company's Dagenham site had been home to tractor plant production since 1933. In 1986 following an amalgamation with Sperry New Holland the operation became Ford New Holland and from 1991 Fiat New Holland when Ford sold off the remaining interest in their tractor division. Today it is owned by Case-New Holland (CNH) after a business takeover of Case Corporation in 1999.

20th March

Great Oaks Clinic in Great Oaks, Basildon Town Centre, opened. The purpose built Essex County Council run clinic is the first new permanent health facility to serve the new town. It replaces a health centre opened in February 1958 in temporary accommodation at 119-121 Honeypot Lane, Fryerns. Facilities at the new clinic include a dental surgery and child's play area.

April

Cable television radio and relay service and broadcasting company Rediffusion London Ltd. announce they have been awarded a contract by Basildon Development Corporation to install a cable and piped television service into all their existing and future residential housing stock. This new 'aerial less' service utilised the basement of the town centre tower block Brooke House which also provided the necessary height for the aerials which were erected on the roof. The system was designed to eliminate the appearance of "unsightly" television aerials and thus giving the new housing estates a less cluttered look. By August of 1965 over 8,500 had been connected and it was eventually installed into over 16,000 properties between 1964 and the final installations which ceased around 1986 when the Development Corporation was finally wound up. The wiring was part concealed below ground and run alongside the guttering of each property. The system, known as an H.F. Community Service which utilised 405 line transmission, was relayed to a wall mounted rotary channel selector box marked A to L and proved very popular being extended to Urban District Council tenants from 1967 onwards. The service also included BBC radio stations and, from 1978, Radio Basildon. The selector box choice was as follows: A-BBC1, B-BBC2, C-ITV (London), D-ITV (Anglia), E-H (BBC Radio (from 30/09/1967 Radio 1, 2, 3 and 4)). In 1968 following the introduction of 625 lines of transmission BBC1 took over selector E with the loss of one of the radio stations. By the late 1970s this had become A-Radio Basildon (to 1987 then Sky 1 TV), B-BBC2, C-ITV (Southern) and from 1982-Channel 4, D-ITV (Thames + LWT), E-BBC1, F-ITV (Anglia), G-Radio 4, H-Radio 2 and I-Radio 3. The company also manufactured specially adapted television sets and these could be either bought or rented from Rediffusion's own shop at 38 East Walk in Basildon town centre. A cable with a round Jones socket led from the selector box to the tv although television sets not manufactured by Rediffusion were required to use a mains operated white or grey coloured 'inverter box', which could be supplied by the company. The service was funded by the development corporation through a small increase in property rent. This charge was also met by the Council with respect to their properties. In 1985 the rental shop was acquired by Granada and the service was subsequently taken over around 1988 by Metro Cable TV followed from 1995 to 2002 by CDA Communications Ltd., all based at Rediffusion's former main offices at Black Horse House, Bentalls on the No.2 Industrial Estate, who both chose to charge rented properties directly for the service, but by the early 2000s with the advent of underground cable networks, satellite communications and a relaxing of aerial rules had all but rendered the service obsolete and it was switched off. Years later there are still signs of its existence with some properties still retaining the now extant selector box though much of the exterior wiring has been either severed or taken down completely.

April

Basildon Central Library opens in Fodderwick. The new library provided by Essex County Council opened in a temporary building attached to other temporary demountable style buildings for use as offices by Basildon Council. Mr. N.D. Humphries was appointed as chief librarian. The library later moved to a new temporary detached building, also located in Fodderwick, before moving again, this time to a permanent location in the newly completed Basildon Centre in Pagel Mead (later St. Martin's Square) in 1989.

1st April

Sir John Stuart Macpherson, G.C.M.G. succeeds Sir Humfrey Gale as Chairman of Basildon Development Corporation. Sir Humfrey retired on 31/03/1964.

7th April

The Plough and Tractor public house at 186 Great Knightleys, Lee Chapel North opened. In attendance at the official opening was Major A.G. Mann, managing director of the brewery company Mann, Crossman & Paulin. A large "Manns" sign adorned an outer wall for many years. It was built by J.M. Hill & Sons Ltd. of Heather Park Drive, Wembley. Included in the design was a stage for live attractions, an upstairs 'Hayloft Bar', and an off licence, which later closed in the early 1980s. For a time in the 1980s the main saloon area was halved to create an additional bar and following this around 1987 the pub had a name change, becoming The Stores. This change of name, which lasted to at least 1993, proved unpopular with the locals and the pub subsequently reverted back to its original name. Mr. & Mrs. Gerry and Joan Stovell were the first publicans.

9th April

Basildon councillors hold their first meeting in the new temporary council chamber at Fodderwick in the town centre. Meetings were previously held at Keay House (later renamed Southgate House) in Town Square. Although temporary, this arrangement would last for 25 years to the opening of the Basildon Centre in 1989.

15th April

15th Century farmhouse Laindon Hall in Church Hill destroyed by fire. The building was empty at the time and listed on the Ministry of Works buildings of historic interest list.

July

Douglas Galloway, R.I.B.A., succeeds Anthony B. Davies as Chief Architect Planner to Basildon Development Corporation. One of Anthony B. Davies lasting achievements was the construction of Basildon's highest building Brooke House, completed in 1962 and now Grade II listed. Douglas Galloway had joined the corporation eight years earlier and would go on to become one of its most significant employees.

27th July

Prime Minister of the day, Sir Alec Douglas-Home visits Basildon town centre. He was escorted around the town by Council Chairman, Percy Saunders, local MP. Edward Gardner, Q.C. and Development Corporation Chairman, Sir John Macpherson.

11th August

The Bull's Eye public house in Southernhay, Basildon opened. Run by brewers Cope's Taverns the pub features two ground level bars and an upper level ballroom capable of holding 250 people. The upper ballroom also doubles as a 200 seat dining hall. The upper level was later extended and the restaurant was run as a Mr Toby Carvery. The name of the pub was suggested by Norman Hack of St. Michael's Avenue, Pitsea who entered it in a name-that-pub competition held in March 1963 by brewer's Charrington and the Basildon Recorder newspaper. Around 1999 it was renamed The Beehive, coincidentally one of the suggestions in the original name-that-pub competition. In 1999 the upper bar area became Colors Nightclub.

5th September

The Church of Saint Gabriel opens in Rectory Road, Pitsea. The new Church of England church was built as a replacement for St. Michael's Church on land that once formed part of Shophouse Farm. It was designed by Southend architect Donald M. Corder, A.R.I.B.A. and features a steel spire clad in fibre glass reflecting the three points of the trinity. Pinewood pews to seat 350 were obtained from a disused north London congregational church in Harlesden and a bell, cast at Whitechapel in 1866, was another additional find. Its unique 12-sided design are said to represent the 12 apostles. A foundation stone was laid the previous year on 21st September by Rev. E.W. Grevatt, the former Rector of Pitsea, in the presence of the Archdeacon of Southend, The Ven. William Neville Welch. The former Rector had purchased the land in 1928 on which the church was built. Its name already had an association with the area, St. Gabriel's chapel, now long since demolished, having once existed in Rectory Road. The service of consecration was carried out by the Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt. Rev. John Tiarks in the presence of Rev. Arthur Harvey, Rector of Pitsea. Rev. E.W. Grevatt was amongst the congregation. A.D. Jackson and Son were the contractors used in its construction. The first wedding took place on 26/09/1964.

8th September

Blessed Anne Line Roman Catholic Primary School in Wickhay opened. The school, built in Lee Chapel North at Wickhay, is named after the English martyr Anne Line who lived (c.1563 – 27th February 1601). The school was later extended when a separate infant school opened in 1968. The first Headmaster was Mr James J.V. Fox, a former history teacher from nearby Woodlands secondary, who remained in charge until his retirement in 1988. The schools' name was later changed to St. Anne Line when Pope Paul VI granted permission for forty martyrs from England and Wales to be canonised on 25th October 1970.

19th September

A new scout campsite is established called Kingston Ridge off Lee Chapel Lane, Langdon Hills. It becomes the new home of Basildon Scouts who previously, from 10/09/1961, had used a site in Pipps Hill Road, Laindon. The site of around 7 acres was acquired in 1963 through Basildon Development Corporation and initial occupation was on a three-year lease which was then extended. The area - much of it dense woodland and scrub - was cleared by members of the Local Association of scouts. Tom Parrinder, International Commissioner for Essex, officially opened the site on a special weekend attended by various scout and cub groups including Holy Cross. Others in attendance included council chairman Bert Saunders and the president and chairman of the Local Association of scouts Elizabeth Gregory and Derek Spurging. The site is still in use today.

3rd October

Lee Chapel North Community Centre officially opened. The new facility at Ballards Walk attracted a large gathering which included recently retired headmistress of Markhams Chase primary school, Janet Duke, who gave out prizes. Basildon Development Corporation chairman Sir John Macpherson carried out the official opening ceremony. The hall soon proved popular with all age groups who enjoyed a varied programme of activities that included the senior citizens Darby and Joan Club afternoons and an early evening disco for the under 16s called Tuesday Club (later becoming Wednesday Club in the mid 1970s). A children's Saturday morning film show was another popular attraction which ran until September 1971 when the ABC cinema opened in the town centre.

7th October

Markhams Chase County Infant' & Junior School in Laindon renamed Janet Duke County Infant School and Janet Duke County Junior School in honour of the former headmistress's 31 years service. From September 1st 2010 the two schools merged to became Janet Duke Primary, which it remains today.

15th October

Mr. Edward Gardner, Q.C. (later Sir) (35,347) is re-elected Conservative Member of Parliament for the Billericay constituency including Basildon. His victory was the second over Labour opponent Rita Smythe, who reduced his majority to 1,592. The Labour Party won the general election. The count, which was carried out at Billericay Senior School, marked the final time it was held in Billericay with all future counts taking place in Basildon. It also marked the last time until 1983 that a female would stand as a candidate.

3rd November

H.R.H. The Queen Mother opens Southwood Court in Great Spenders, Basildon as retirement homes for the Printers Pension Corporation. Also in attendance was the president of the charity, the late Sir Billy Butlin, founder of Butlins holiday camps.