NEW designs setting out the future of Harwich and Manningtree could see hundreds of new homes added to town and village developments.

Tendring Council has mapped out its wishlist of where 12,120 new homes will be built in the district in the next 20 years.

It comes after the first attempt at the new Local Plan, which mooted a six per cent housing increase across the district, was thrown out in its draft stages.

The new plan proposes building 1,358 new homes in Harwich and Dovercourt, 655 in Manningtree, Mistley and Lawford, and 181 split across rural areas, including 55 in Great Oakley and 24 in Wix.

Tendring's planning boss Carlo Guglielmi said there would be a full consultation on the plan for residents to have their say.

“The sites chosen have been assessed for viability and sustainability – they are close to services and trunk roads,” he said.

“By identifying sites, we want to be able to retain some sort of control over where development goes."