NEW priorities including infrastructure and business support have been put forward to help the district grow.

Braintree Council has outlined a five-year delivery plan for growth, prioritising roads, new businesses and attainment levels in schools.

The Cabinet will look at the plan for growth at a meeting on May 15.

It hopes to submit proposed routes for new A120 and A12 by the end of the year and deliver a scheme to improve local roads by 2020.

Train services could also be improved, as the council looks to work with Network Rail, Abellio and Essex County Council.

A study has been planned to provide two trains an hour to Braintree from London and there are proposals to bring appropriate sites forward in late 2019.

The council has already pledged to have the Manor Street bus park development in Braintree completed by 2020.

It has proposed to improve junctions at Springwood Industrial estate and Galleys Corner, with the creation of a new slip road joining Millennium Way to the A120.

A total of £500,000 has already been planned to deliver an enterprise centre in Witham.

The report said: “As well as a focused approach to the key sectors, the draft plan for growth also highlights the importance of town centres and rural areas, including the tourism offer, to the district.

“There is a considerable tourism offer within the district which, if appropriately exploited, will not only have a beneficial economic impact but will also crucially raise positive awareness of the district.

“The tourism offer includes supporting the enhancing of our town centres and the rural tourism and business offer within the district.”