Basildon Market Square
Shaping the landscape vision for a major town centre regeneration
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Overview
Basildon Market Square is an ambitious town centre regeneration project that brings together residential, commercial and community uses within a vibrant mixed-use development. Comprising 492 build-to-rent homes alongside retail space, a community health facility and incubator units for local businesses, the scheme has been carefully planned to create a destination that supports both economic growth and community wellbeing.
As Landscape Architects, BoonBrown was appointed during RIBA Stages 1-3 to develop the coordinated landscape concept and spatial design strategy. Our role focused on establishing a clear vision for the public realm, shaping how people move through, experience and connect with the development from the earliest stages of design.
Bringing Life to the Public Realm
Great places are often defined by what happens between the buildings.
Our landscape concept focused on creating welcoming outdoor spaces where people can meet friends, take a break, enjoy the changing seasons or simply pass through a more attractive and engaging environment. By carefully considering movement, connections and activity, the design helps transform the market square into a place people are drawn to, rather than just a route from A to B.
A series of interconnected spaces were developed to encourage interaction, support community life and create a stronger sense of identity for this growing part of Basildon.
Creating a Greener Town Centre
Nature plays a vital role in making urban environments healthier, more enjoyable and more resilient.
The landscape proposals introduce biodiverse planting throughout the development, helping to soften the built form while bringing colour, texture and seasonal interest to the public realm. Carefully considered planting creates opportunities for wildlife while enhancing the day-to-day experience for residents, visitors and local businesses.
This approach supports wider sustainability goals while demonstrating how landscape architecture can contribute to richer, more attractive town centre environments.
Designing Places for People
Successful placemaking starts with understanding how people use space.
The landscape strategy was developed to support a variety of experiences, from moments of quiet reflection to opportunities for social connection and recreation. Attractive pedestrian routes, places to sit and welcoming communal spaces help encourage activity throughout the day, creating a setting that feels accessible, inclusive and connected.
By putting people first, the design helps lay the foundations for a thriving mixed-use neighbourhood where community can flourish.
Shaping the Vision for Regeneration
Our role during RIBA Stages 1-3 established the landscape framework and placemaking principles that support the wider ambitions for Basildon Market Square. Through coordinated concept and spatial design, we helped define a vision for a greener, more vibrant and people-focused town centre.
The project demonstrates how thoughtful landscape architecture and public realm design can help shape the future of urban regeneration, creating places that not only look good, but feel meaningful, connected and built for generations to come.