THE owners of Basildon's Eastgate Centre have thanked residents and councillors for supporting their ambitious £20million cinema plans.

Basildon Council's crossparty planning committee has approved the scheme, which also includes the creation of four new restaurants, a threestorey extension, and layout changes to the Eastgate Centre. It is expected to take two years to complete.

A spokesman for Infrared, which bought the shopping centre in February 2014, said: “We are delighted Basildon Council has backed our plans to improve the Eastgate Centre, and would like to thank all who have expressed their support for this initiative”.