COLCHESTER’S population is expected to grow by about 35,000 in the next 20 years, according to a new report.

The massive increase is predicted in a new study looking at housing needs across four districts in Essex.

It suggests the population will grow by about 1,600 each year until 2037 with 920 dwellings expected to be built every year.

The actual totals could be much higher.

The borough has been growing at a rate of more than 1,000 homes and more than 2,000 people each year since 2009, making it the fastest growing shire borough in the country.

The figures are included in the Objective Assessment Housing Needs Study by Peter Brett Associates covering Colchester, Tendring, Braintree and Chelmsford.

Braintree and Chelmsford are expected to grow by between 1,100 and 1,200 each year with growth in Tendring also about 1,000.

A study revealed in 2004 Colchester was expected to grow by 773 homes a year, but this has risen repeatedly to 920-a-year now.

Tendring is expected to grow by 425 homes each year, but is slipping behind target with an average annual grown of 385.

And while home targets are rising in Colchester they are falling quickly in Braintree.

Plans between 1996 and 2011 suggested the district needed to grow by 687 dwellings per year.

The latest local plan is for 273 per year. During 2014/15 a total of 409 dwellings were completed.