THE FIRST phase of redevelopment of the Craylands estate will be finished on time council bosses have promised.

Basildon Council leader Tony Ball revealed building work should restart in the new year after months of delays due to negotiations over buying out private homeowners stalled the project.

He also said the target completion date of March 2015 would still be met, meaning none of the Government funds which have allowed the redevelopment would have to be repaid.

However, Mr Ball admitted there was some uncertainty about funding for a further three phases of redevelopment coming forward, putting the regeneration of the whole estate under question. 

John Baron, Basildon and Billericay MP, has been involved in talks to get the project back on track. He said: “This is certainly a step in the right direction. We have more to do but I am hopeful things will progress without further delay.”