South of Billericay, north of the banks of the shores of the River Thames, sits the village and civil parish of Laindon, Essex. Now forming the periphery of the town Basildon, Laindon’s history stretches equally far back into history. Recent developments helmed by the Borough of Basildon are providing a wealth of new housing into the locale, improving its infrastructure greatly. With an average house price of £300,000, Laindon is one of the most affordable areas in Essex!

Laindon, as is similar to much of small towns and villages throughout Essex, has an ancient and storied history. It was officially recorded in 1086 in the Domesday Book survey for William the Conquerer, where it was written as ‘Leienduna’. The name, Laindon, is supposedly of Celtic origin! Referring to a nearby tributary of the River Lea, its original name translates to ‘light water’. Laindon, sitting just north of the Langdon Hills, is often considered one of the highest points of Essex, at over 380 feet in height! This height was also why the nearby Billericay was chosen as an important defensive Roman site following Boudica’s razing of Colchester.

Basildon, in the twentieth century, became a key focus in Britain’s urban planning intiative forging new towns throughout the width and breadth of Britain. Laindon saw a significant amount of this new town consolidation, most evident with the 1960s construction of the Five Links Estate. Part of the Basildon Development Corporation’s core strategy, the corporation constructed over 1,300 new homes in the Laindon locale - built in linked courtyards. However, the estate quickly came under scrutiny by residents of Basildon and beyond for the lack of social provisions provided in the area, with no social facilties offered until 1972! Since the 2010s, Basildon Borough Council has been allocating significant resources into the regeneration of the Five Links Estate.

Falling into the contiguous build up of Basildon’s fabric, the area has undergone significant developmental changes throughout the 20th century and beyond. Due to the failing of previous regeneration programmes, much energy and resources have been allocated to the maintainance and renewal of previous estates - rather than providing new housing developments. However, in 2020, a huge regeneration programme - helmed initially by the Swan Housing Association, now by Sanctuary - is completely restructuring the centre of Laindon. This project aims to produce 204 new homes within Laindon’s centre, including a new supermarket, local shops, and local medical facilities!