A £100million funding announcement by the Government for North Essex has been welcomed by the councils behind the bid.
Essex County Council, supported by Colchester, Tendring and Braintree councils, applied to the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) for cash to support a new road linking the A133 in east Colchester to the A120.
The road is an integral part of plans by the four councils for a new garden community to the east of Colchester – providing both private and public transport links from it to Colchester, the A120/A12 and further afield to Stansted Airport – and would also help to alleviate local traffic too.
On Saturday (August 17) Chancellor Sajid Javid confirmed £99.9m funding for the project, to create a single carriageway link road and support delivery of up to 7,500 homes.
Some of the funding will also support development of the first stage of a Rapid Transport System linking the new Colchester/Tendring borders development and Essex University with Colchester Town Centre and the Colchester North rail station.
John Spence, Chairman of North Essex Garden Communities Ltd said “We welcome this announcement of ‘Housing Infrastructure Funding’ as we recognise a fundamental principle of building any new community is that all aspects of infrastructure need to be created in tandem with any new housing.
“The money will provide funding for the link-road and enable elements of the Rapid Transit System to come forward, both of which are crucial parts of the proposals to deliver the Garden Community to the East of Colchester whilst also providing improved access for existing communities in the wider area.
“This news is an important step ahead of the Councils imminent consultation on their revised Local Plan evidence. It is another important step which will facilitate planned engagement with communities across North Essex where we are dedicated to creating a sense of co-ownership in the way our communities of the future are created.”