BASILDON – – November 04, 2026 -- Starlight Investments has topped out The Mercantile, a 492-home build-to-rent (BTR) development in Basildon Town Centre, after reaching the scheme's highest structural point.
Three mid-rise buildings will hold one- and two-bedroom apartments
The Mercantile comprises three mid-rise residential buildings and about 16,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. The site sits near Basildon railway station, which gives residents access to Central London and the wider South East.
Amenities include a gym, yoga studio, cinema, co-working spaces, residents' lounge, private dining room, games room, golf simulator, rooftop garden and landscaped podium. The scheme also provides bike storage, resident parking and pet-friendly features.
Basildon Council links the project to town centre regeneration
Jonathan Tizzard, Assistant Director, Property, Assets & Development at Basildon Borough Council, called the topping out "a clear indication of the confidence that investors and developers have in our borough." He said the nearly 500 homes should attract new residents and support local businesses.
Neil Strelitz, Co-founder and Director of Orwell Real Estate, credited collaboration between Starlight, contractor Ernest Park and the council for delivering the homes "at pace."
Starlight's UK portfolio holds 4,000 homes and £1.1 billion in assets
Starlight's UK residential platform includes approximately 4,000 homes and more than £1.1 billion in assets under management. The company targets more than 10,000 UK homes in the coming years, with growth underway across key regional markets.
Jonnie Milich, Head of UK Residential at Starlight, said the project reflects the firm's commitment to high-quality rental housing in well-connected communities.
The name draws on the site's location in Basildon's Market Square and its history as a place of trade. The brand identity uses market stall awnings shaped into an "M."