Basildon

The Borough of Basildon is a local government district with borough status in Essex, England. The borough is named after its largest town, Basildon, where the council is based. The borough also includes the towns of Billericay and Wickford and surrounding rural areas. The borough's neighbouring districts are Chelmsford, Rochford, Castle Point, Thurrock and Brentwood. History The former Basildon Urban District was created in 1955 by renaming the Billericay Urban District, which had been established in 1934. The new name reflected the growth of Basildon, which had been designated a new town in 1949. Urban districts were abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. A new non-metropolitan district called Basildon was created covering the whole of the former Basildon Urban District plus the small part of the neighbouring Thurrock Urban District which fell within the designated area for Basildon New Town.