A new junction off the A12 could be built quicker than expected thanks to the Government's go-ahead for the northern approaches relief road.

And it could also mean a new home for Colchester United.

This Is Essex revealed last week that the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) had agreed to the plan for the major road and up to 700 houses could be built from Turner Road through to land by Severalls Hospital.

The permission was today being seen widely as a springboard for speeding up the development of a proposed new A12 junction to the east of the A134 between the Boxted Road and Severalls Lane flyovers, adjoining council-owned land at Cuckoo Farm.

And it was also being tentatively seen as a step forward for the long-running problem of finding Colchester United a new home ground.

Cuckoo Farm is one of the sites proposed for a community use stadium which would house the football ground.

Councillors are due to discuss a report into the new ground at a meeting later this month.

But today Terry Sutton, Liberal Democrat councillor and chairman of the council's planning and transportation committee, said he believed the DETR's green light for northern approaches was a good step forward.

He said: "This is a clear signal that a junction could be going that way.

"I am very much in favour of the new site for the junction for many reasons but also because it edges council-owned land and would push up the value of that land - therefore getting the best deal for the residents of Colchester."

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