TENDRING Council bosses have announced plans to spend a £4 million windfall on major projects to enhance the district.

The money could see new homes built in Jaywick, a new town centre in Dovercourt, 100 per cent broadband coverage and for hosting a stage of the prestigious Women’s Tour cycling race.

The cash comes from the New Homes Bonus handed to the council by the Government as part of its scheme to incentivise housing growth across the country.

Carlo Guglielmi, the council’s cabinet member for finance, said he was pleased the authority would be spending the grant on infrastructure rather than using it to prop up its finances in the face of Government cuts.

The grant will be used to fund £2.25million plans for a new garden community in north Essex and £1million for public realm works in Dovercourt.

It is understood that one of the potential regeneration areas could be the derelict former Starlings site in Main Road.

A sum of £500,000 will be used to fund the building of new homes to kick start regeneration in Jaywick and almost £600,000 could be used towards a project aiming for full broadband coverage in the district.

Mr Guglielmi said: “We will be investing in four major projects - this will represent an equal share of investment in all the four quarters of the district.

“We have often been criticised for neglecting some of our town centres and the people of Jaywick.

“We have laid a marker in the ground in Jaywick and will be following this with a £500,000 to build new homes.

“We will be earmarking £2.25million to the garden community project, which not only will deliver all services that our residents and councillors alike have the most concerns, such as roads, schools, and health provisions, but in its life span will deliver huge financial gains to the council. We will be investing for posterity.

“I am proud this council has not used the new homes bonus to prop up its revenue budget as some authorities have so done but instead we will be using our share of this windfall revenue to fund worthwhile projects.”

Mr Guglielmi said £65,000 would also be spent on again hosting the prestigious Women’s Tour cycling race, which attracted worldwide TV audiences the last time it was held in the district.

The plans are part of Tendring Council’s cabinet’s proposed budget, which will be discussed at a full council meeting in February.