J. Toomey Motors Ltd moves to new purpose built premises on the recently opened Southfields industrial development at West Mayne, Laindon. The family run company, founded by Joseph Toomey as Laindon Accumulators in 1929, were previously based in the High Road where they established a Vauxhall dealership, garage workshop and petrol filling station. Their new headquarters was also named Service House, just as it had been at the former High Road site.

The National Motorboat Museum opens at Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea. Later known as the Motorboat Museum and run by Basildon Council, the museum displays boats from the 1800s to the present. It is housed in a former Anti Aircraft Ordnance Depot erected by the War Department during the Second World War. The museum closed on Friday 4th December, 2009 following the council's decision to create a Green Centre as part of a large scale refurbishment. At the time of closure the collection stood at nearly 50, of which many had already been returned to their owners.

Fairhouse Court residential complex completed. Located at Long Riding in the Barstable West area of Basildon this new Basildon Council owned sheltered housing development for old aged pensioners consists of 31 one bedroomed flats and is warden controlled.

31st March

Basildon Development Corporation is wound up after 37 years and replaced by the Commission For The New Towns (CNT). Basildon Development Corporation (Transfer of Property and Dissolution) Order 1986: New Towns (Statutory instruments: 1986: 502)

1st April

The Commission For The New Towns (CNT) succeeds Basildon Development Corporation. The Commission inherited all existing development corporation responsibilities within the designated area of the new town.

6th June

Pitsea Police Station at 8 Rectory Road opened. A previous station had existed at the same location but had closed in November 1967 when operations were centralised at Great Oaks, Basildon.