THE authorities behind proposals to build two new towns are being asked to fork out an extra £1 million to plug a financial shortfall.

Figures to go before Colchester Council’s cabinet meeting next week show Colchester Council, Tendring Council, Braintree Council and Essex County Council will need to pay £250,000 each in order to plug the budget gap.

Documents state the cash will be used to develop the new town schemes and may not be recoverable.

A report states: “The overall scope of work and budget requirements show a shortfall of £914,000 for 2017/18.

“The four councils are requested to make further equal contributions of £250,000 per authority to ensure the budget is sufficient for 2017/18.”

Council bosses hope extra money could be secured from the Homes and Communities Agency and other government bodies.

However, there is no guarantee any bid would be successful.

The councils have set aside about £2.5 million for initial land purchases.

Plans on which sites should be progressed are due to be finalised by March next year.

By September 2018, each of Colchester, Tendring and Braintree councils’ local plan should be adopted.

A business case is also expected to be presented then.

The plans for the new settlements have been plagued by controversy, with critics saying they will become “soulless commuter towns” and will lack infrastructure.

However, council bosses have vowed to forward fund roads, schools and health centres and recoup the money from developers when the homes are eventually built and sold.

John Spence, chairman of North Essex Garden Communities Ltd, said: “The garden community initiative is one of the biggest projects of its type in the country.

"As councils we have committed to properly exploring the viability of the three proposed communities built to garden community principles, and have been very clear, that if this is not the case, then one, two or three will not happen.

“It has always been the intention to come back to councils at this stage to provide update and ensure the exploratory work is properly funded.

"The decision to explore a ‘development corporation’ approach following changes in legislation will create additional costs  and each council will now be asked to further fund what will be a critical 12 months for the project.”