Two NEGC related projects could be backed to the tune of £165 million after being shortlisted in the Government’s Housing and Infrastructure Fund (HIF).
Essex County Council bid for money to help pay for a range of road and transport infrastructure improvements that will unlock two of the NEGC sites for housing and employment growth,
The bids were supported by, district and borough councils, MPs, SELEP and the University of Essex.
They are:
- £65 million to build a new road linking the A120 and A133 and undertake preparatory work for a Rapid Transit system linking the university, garden community and central Colchester
- £100 million to ensure the proposed A12 improvements can accommodate and allow access to the proposed Garden Communities settlement at Marks Tey, subject to further public consultation
A third ECC bid for the Beaulieu and Chelmsford North East bypass, which includes plans for a new railway station and an initial phase of the long awaited bypass was also shortlisted
The milestone funding announcement was made today by Minister of State for Housing, Dominic Raab MP, as part of the Government’s £5 billion Housing and Infrastructure fund, which offers funding to local councils on a competitive basis to support new infrastructure to enable housing growth.
John Spence CBE, Chairman of NEGC Ltd, said: “The driving ambition of NEGC is to ensure that new development is properly planned and delivered in a better way, ensuring that the right infrastructure is in place at the right time to enable new settlements to function from day one.
“That is why we are delighted that the HIF bids supporting two of our garden communities have been successful in reaching the next stage.
“This now enables NEGC to work closely with Homes England to ensure that the strategic road infrastructure improvements are planned in a manner that underpins the development of sustainable planned garden communities where people want to live, work and play.
“We are determined to develop true garden settlements and we are delighted that the Government has backed this bold ambition to create something truly special in North Essex.”