Brentwood appoints partners for Baytree leisure-led regeneration

Brentwood Borough Council has appointed Willmott Dixon Developments and Milligan to bring forward the regeneration of The Baytree Shopping Centre. The proposed redevelopment would create a leisure quarter anchored by a boutique or premium-format cinema, with restaurants, bars and improved public space.

The council will invest more than £6m in the scheme, which forms part of its wider plans for Brentwood town centre. The partners were appointed through Pagabo’s Developer Led Framework and will now progress detailed design, prepare a planning application and begin engagement with existing occupiers.

The proposals focus on leisure uses at the front of the shopping centre, alongside upgraded public space around the historic ruins of the Chapel of St Thomas à Becket. The rear of the site would be prepared separately, opening up the possibility of new homes in a future phase.

The council approved the proposal in September, but a planning application has yet to be submitted. The appointment establishes a development team and council funding commitment; construction has not started.

Councillor Gareth Barrett, chair of the council’s Assets and Strategy Committee, said: “People in Brentwood have heard talk about Baytree for a long time. This is different. We now have a named delivery partner, a funded scheme, and a clear set of milestones that we’ll report back on publicly at every stage.”

He added: “We’ve got a little way to go before work starts on the ground, but I’m seriously excited about this project and the whole new set of opportunities it brings for everyone who lives, works and plays in Brentwood.”

For the development partners, the next stage will involve translating the council’s proposals into a commercially workable scheme. Engagement with local businesses, community groups and residents will help shape the redevelopment alongside the design and planning work.

Joe Kerby, regional head of land and development for London and East at Willmott Dixon Developments, said: “This redevelopment is a strong example of a council taking a proactive approach to repurposing a town centre asset to meet the needs of the local community. Together with Milligan, our role is to help turn that ambition into a scheme that is viable, fundable and deliverable, bringing our combined development and regeneration experience to the project.”

The appointment builds on an existing relationship between Willmott Dixon Developments and Milligan. The businesses are also working together through a ten-year regeneration partnership in Torbay and have been appointed by Dorset Council as regeneration partners for Weymouth.

Milligan chief executive Stuart Harris said the Brentwood project would focus on creating more reasons for people to spend time in the town centre, through leisure, culture, food and drink and public space.

The proposed phasing gives the partners a defined leisure-led scheme to advance while retaining the potential for housing at the rear. Detailed design, planning and engagement with the centre’s occupiers remain the next steps before work can begin on site.