North Essex Garden Communities Project
North Essex Garden Communities project receives cash boost from Government
Housing Minister, Rt Hon Esther Mcvey, has today announced a total of £6 million of funding to help progress plans for garden towns and villages across the UK. In total, plans across the UK will help deliver up to 200,000 new homes.
The North Essex Garden Communities project has received a £550,000 share of the funding to progress plans for the three proposed Garden Communities across Colchester, Tendring and Braintree.
Cllr John Spence, Chair of NEGC and Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “We welcome the confirmation of extra funding which we were expecting from the Government, which is a vote of confidence in our ability to deliver garden communities in North Essex through our partnership work.”
Cllr Neil Stock OBE, Leader of Tendring District Council, said: “This welcome but unsurprising announcement comes just as a Planning Inspector resumes examining our joint strategic Local Plan, which sets out our shared ambition for garden communities across North Essex.
“This clearly demonstrates the level of significant and ongoing support from Government – who have already given the North Essex garden communities project more than £3 million – for this innovative and forward-thinking approach to ensuring we have enough homes, jobs and infrastructure to support future growth in our area in a planned and sustainable way.”
Cllr David King, Colchester Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Business and Resources said: “I’m delighted the Government has once again confirmed its support for garden communities.
“It knows residents deserve better than the piecemeal and speculative development of recent years. This announcement is great news and further testament to our joint vision and ability to attract the investment needed to create sustainable new communities.
“The Government and our council partners know that garden communities are a much better way to deliver the new homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure needed for future generations across North Essex.”
Cllr Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning at Braintree District Council, said: “This money from central government to progress garden communities to create good homes for hardworking families is very good news. We will continue to work with our partners to make the right long-term decisions for our local area.”
NEGC Ltd is the body tasked with taking the North Essex Garden Communities project forward. It is wholly owned by, and works on behalf of, Essex County Council, Braintree District Council, Tendring District Council and Colchester Borough Council. The delivery of the Garden Communities is subject to their being approved by an independent Planning Inspector.
Currently, there are 21 Garden Community projects across the UK. The full list of projects and the funding they have received can be seen here.