WICKFORD'S swimming pool will be refurbished and public toilets will be renovated after Basildon Borough Council agreed to invest more than £1 million.
The cash injection comes on top of the £500,000 the authority has previously pledged to improve the town centre.
Besides improvement to the Market Road pool and the lavatories in Woodlands Road, a more frequent High Street market will be introduced.
The pool will see a complete overhaul, with a fitness suite being constructed above the current building and improvements to the pool to give easier access and increased pool usage.
The work will be paid for by revenue raised from the sale of council-owned land in Radwinter Avenue for housing.
As well as this, in 2015 a large Sainsbury's store is set to be built in the space that is now occupied by the Co– operative supermarket.
Councillor Malcolm Buckley, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "This is a big project to regenerate Wickford.
"There are a number of projects to get excited about that we will now be taking forward, including a more regular High Street market, an extension to the swimming pool to create a new fitness suite, and the opportunity for a major new supermarket on the current Co-op site.
"The biggest investment will be into the pool to make it a modern facility with disabled access."
Work will start towards the end of the year.
Mr Buckley added: "The continental markets on the High Street have been very well received and we aim to make them much more regular.
"This will involve making sure the High Street is safe for pedestrians.
"We want to make sure that the markets have a beneficial effect on traders and businesses. It will bring more people into the town and more custom for the shops from extra visitors."
The council's cabinet approved a regeneration strategy on March 8 and work on the town market, toilets and town centre will be completed by April next year.
Council leader Tony Ball said: "The regeneration of Wickford town centre is a priority project for the council and it is vital that a strategy of regeneration is agreed to prevent the current risk of further decline."
