LANDOWNERS who expressed an interest in having their sites used for garden cities are being sent letters about the council’s plans.

Colchester, Tendring and Braintree councils want to create the new developments, creating thousands of homes, new jobs and infrastructure.

The councils are working together on the project, and have brought in independent and non-for-profit company Garden City Developments CIC to help.

They have been tasked with “engaging with the early planning for growth, agreeing a vision, infrastructure requirements and assessing the sustainability and deliverability of the new sites through discussions with landowners.”

Last year, landowners were sent letters asking about their land, and the council will write to people who expressed an interest in the next few days.

Bill Frame, responsible for economic development and planning at Colchester Council, said: “One of the issues in Colchester is we’re running out of land.

“Whilst we’re still on the current local plan and we’ve secured more for the next local plan, we’re still looking for innovative ways of meeting our housing targets.”

The council is sending letters to landowners in east Colchester and near the A120.

The development could be part of the 2016/17 Local Plan, which means it would happen in the next ten to 15 years.

Mr Frame added: “The Garden City principles are intended to create planned new settlements which enhance the natural environment, provide high-quality affordable housing, infrastructure and locally accessible jobs.

We want to create places people are proud to live in.

“We’re not just adding things on, we’re actually saying we could build a community, which, in some cases, might have a rail station, with good facilities, good shops and really providing a nice village atmosphere.”

Landowners in the areas will be receiving letters from the councils in the next few days outlining the way forward for the potential successful development of land.

The letters will be followed up by contact from the Garden City Developments CIC.

The results will be used by councils when they sit down to discuss sites .

Earlier this year, the councils advertised for a £38,000-a-year project manager role to oversee the garden cities developments, but this still hasn’t been filled.