BUILDING work to create a brand new Basildon Market could begin as soon as January.

Basildon Council confirmed designers and architects have been drafted in to move the market from its current site in Market Pavement to St Martin's Square.

The scheme has been welcomed by traders, who believe the new market will provide improved facilities and boost trade.

It is part of a £39million regeneration scheme, which will involve building a new South Essex College campus on the current market site.

The project is able to proceed after developer Redrow Homes was granted permission to build the first 181 homes of the controversial Dry Street development in September.

It means the college can sell its existing Nethermayne campus to Redrow, releasing funds for the town centre move.

Chris Elliott, who runs the Battery Centre at the market, said: “I think it is going to be a really good thing as everything will be brand new.

“We have seen the plans and drawings of what it will look like, and we are hoping work will be getting underway pretty soon.”

South Essex College will offer A-level courses for the first time at the new campus, which is expected to open in 2018.

Tory council leader Phil Turner added: “This project is going full steam ahead. Moving the college to the town centre is part of our philosophy of creating opportunity and better education for the people of Basildon.

“We are not rethinking this, as the policy has been around since long before I was leader.

“Work will start in the first quarter of 2016, and I’d potentially like to see it happen in January.”

Basildon Council revealed last week it is months away from unveiling new plans for shops, restaurants and apartments in East Square.

The ambitious proposals, which originally included a cinema, had been shelved last year when the neighbouring Eastgate Centre announced its own expansion plan.