Issue 5 - Laindon Place August 2019

somewhere to feel at home

NEWSLETTER

Laindon Place

It’s Gone! Residents, MPs, Councillors and Swan employees gather to witness the start of the shopping centre demolition.

W

e were absolutely thrilled to have seen so many of you come out and witness the first “crunch” of the machines as the demolition of the Laindon Shopping Centre begin.

As we gathered around, local MP for Basildon and Billericay John Baron, Mark Francois MP for Rayleigh & Wickford, Stephen Metcalfe MP for Basildon South and East Thurrock, all said a few words, thanking not only Swan, but the local community for their patience and support, as Swan push forward with works to see your thriving new high street brought to life!

John Baron, MP for Basildon and Billericay said:

“The start of the demolition of Laindon Shopping Centre is a true milestone towards its transformation into a modern and vibrant hub, which will include a new high street, medical centre and affordable homes.

It has been great teamwork between all involved including Swan NU living, Basildon Council, Local Councillors, Stakeholders and MPs. We very much look forward to following the progress of this regeneration.”

Laindon Place | August 2019

Issue 5: August 2019 www.swan.org.uk www.laindonfutures.co.uk

This area is very friendly and my community is so diverse.

We have so many people of all ages living here including many friends. I can’t wait for Laindon to become a vibrant high street again and look forward to the new houses bringing new families to the area.

Christine Davis - local resident

What to expect over the coming months The demolition of the centre complete, the temporary relocation of the war memorial (see page 4 for details). Piling work to begin across the remainder of the site (N.B there will be an increase in lorry movement through this month)

AUG

Groundworks will continue through this month, Danacre will be reduced to a single lane, with traffic control to allow a new storm drain run to be installed.

SEP

Piling works will be complete, first timber framed houses delivered to the Landmark site at Burdock Drive. On the main site, the concrete frame for the new Swan office will have reached the second floor.

OCT

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Now you see it, now you don’t! All on track to see your new high street and homes by [2020] The Laindon Centre demolition is almost complete! Our development team and contractors have been hard at work to clear the site, as we make way for your brand new Laindon Place! You can see from our time-lapse images how works have progressed.

BEFORE

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AFTER

We are a Considerate Contractor The Laindon site and team recently underwent a ‘‘Considerate Contractor Scheme’’ inspection. This scheme consists of construction sites, companies and suppliers agreeing to abide by the Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements. The main areas of fall into three categories: the general public, the workforce and the environment.

We are delighted that the Laindon site and team scored high on: site safety, site appearance and community engagement.

They will continue to work hard to ensure the local community are aware of the works going on at the site as well as keeping disruption, where possible, to a minimum. If you have any concerns about the works taking places do not hesitate to contact the team on 0300 303 2500.

Laindon Place | Newsletter - August 2019

Laindon Demolition Event 2

We celebrated the achievements of over 100 residents with a graduation ceremony at The Beech, Basildon We recently celebrated the achievements and hard work of our residents who have attended and completed several employment training courses. The courses celebrated were the result of strong partnership working with WEA and Clarion Housing. The courses ran from September 2018 to June 2019.

Caroline Richardson, Head of Resident Involvement and Community development opened the event by addressing the residents. She recognised their efforts and applauded their achievements before the certificates were presented. Representatives from WEA and Clarion were also on hand to support this event. Over 100 Essex based residents have completed courses and 43 people attended the event to receive their certificate.

These courses have changed my life! (Laura)

There have already been some amazing outcomes from these courses! All 16 residents who attended the CACHE/NCFE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges course have already received placements in local schools; 6 of them have already gained paid employment within the school environment.

Laura has completed many of the courses, including the CACHE/NCFE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges course. She said that these courses had changed her life. Laura’s self-esteem has improved immensely, and she has now got a job as a direct result of involvement in these courses.

After receiving their certificates, the residents enjoyed some lunch and had the opportunity to network with staff and the course providers. The event ended on a very positive note as many of the residents have already enrolled for courses that begin in September.

Certificates were awarded to residents who had completed the following courses:

• Mobile Phone Repair • Introduction to Becoming a Teaching Assistant • CACHE/NCFE Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges • Introduction to Sign Language • Help your Child Manage Stress and Anxiety

Laindon Place | Newsletter - August 2019

• Introduction to Counselling • Strategies to Support Children with ADHD, Autism and and Sensory Differences • Confidence Building and Self Esteem • Mental Health Course • Paediatric Emergency First Aid

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Preservation of Laindon War Memorial and Royal Silver Jubilee Fountain As part of our ongoing regeneration of Laindon Place and the creation of the new High Street in Laindon, we are delighted to be creating a permanent feature of the Laindon War Memorial and Royal Silver Jubilee Fountain at the centre of the new scheme and in the case of the War Memorial in particular, have been working closely with local residents and community stakeholders to ensure that this important monument take centre stage at Laindon Place.

To allow the creation of the new public realm in which both the war memorial and fountain will be set, we will be moving the war memorial and fountain to temporary locations before both pieces are reinstated as part of our reinvigorated public realm in August 2020.The Laindon War Memorial will be installed by the temporary retail area close to the Laindon Health Centre, to ensure that it can continue to be honoured at Remembrance Day and throughout the year and the water fountain will be stored safely on site.

To ensure the removal and reinstatement is carried out safely and professionally, we have appointed fine art and antiquities removal experts Momart (www.momart.com). Momart, who have a Royal Warrant, carry out fine art transport and removal services for art galleries and museums around the world - for example they helped move the Royal Collection in 1993, so we are delighted to have their support As you will appreciate these are delicate historical items and Momart are supervising the whole process to ensure that the pieces are sensitively handled. They will carry out 3D scans of both the War Memorial and Fountain prior to any works, so that in the highly unlikely case of any damage, they can be restored.

Both items are scheduled to be moved on 7 and 8 August and an appropriate event will be arranged to celebrate their return to Laindon Place in 2020.

For more information about the removal, contact the team on 0300 303 2500.

Block E - Memorial Garden (Laindon)

Swan Head Office

Contact

Pilgrim House, High Street, Billericay, Essex CM12 9XY

Phone: 0300 303 2500 (ask for Laindon

Open: Monday - Thursday 9am - 5.15 pm / Friday 9am - 5pm

Place Team) Email: information@swan.org.uk

Laindon Place | Newsletter - August 2019

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