Plans to create 1,800 specialist homes for older people with a care need in the county have won national praise.

Essex County Council’s independent living programme was commended in the Local Government Association’s report on housing an ageing population.

The report sets out what is required to meet the housing needs and aspirations of the ageing population nationally.

Cllr John Spence, responsible for adult health and social care, said: “Our ambition is to provide the maximum help we can so that everyone can have somewhere safe, pleasant and supportive to live in later life.

"It’s heartening that our approach in Essex has been recognised as an example for other local authorities around the country to follow.”

The council’s independent living programme will see £27.7 million invested between now and 2022 to help the development of self-contained homes for the county's ageing population.

The investment will enable older people in Essex - who would otherwise live in residential care or a home of their own that may no longer meets their needs - to live independently.

Construction will begin on new schemes in the Braintree, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow and Rochford districts during 2018.

The first two independent living housing schemes for older people in Essex, Rosebank Park in Harwich, and Beaumont House in Walton, opened in 2017.

A scheme in Saffron Walden is also due to open in summer 2018.