THE prospect of 7,000 new homes being built on the border of Tendring and Wivenhoe has become a step closer to reality.

Tendring Council has included the massive scheme in its planning blueprint for future development.

Braintree Council has already given its support to similar huge developments at Marks Tey and nearer Braintree itself.

Colchester COuncil is expected to support both applications as it has been working with its counter - parts and Essex County Council to create plans for the new towns.

These will could feature schools, road improvements and doctors surgeries being constructed at the same time as new housing.

Colchester Council leader Paul Smith said he felt these ‘garden settlements’ would help to meet the borough’s target of buildings more than 900 homes per year.

He said: “I think for too long we have done planning in a way which does not suit the needs of existing settlements.

“For too long developers have been building, for example, 200 houses and people have been ask - ing what about infrastructure like schools? And there has been no obligation for them to provide one.

“Then another developer might come and build another 200 across the road and again there is no ob - ligation.

“Where as if it is a new area then you are going to need infra - structure first and can be put in as the houses are developed.

“The three councils will be able to have a say on the design of the new houses, for example where necessary solar panels might be put in and charging points for electrical cars.”

The councils have been given £640,000 worth of government funding to explore the feasibility of garden settlements from the Department of Communities and Local Government and the settlement between Wivenhoe and Tendring could be made up of as many as 7,000 homes.

Tendring Council chairman Neil Stock said:“It’s a fairly natu - ral extension of Colchester which does come into the district of Tendring.”

Mr Smith said if the garden settlements on the border of bor - oughs and districts were built then the numbers of home would count towards targets for both councils, rather than being split down border lines.

He said: “We want to look at this in a sensible manner.

“When you are talking about in - frastructure it might make more sense for the houses to be in one area, and the roads to be in another for the good of the development rather than houses to be shared out along lines which in some cases are quite arbitrary.”