Councillors have asked landowners to draw up plans for self contained “Garden Cities” in a bid to meet the district’s housing needs.

Braintree Council is working on a local plan to determine where at least 16,000 homes should be built across 360 potential sites by the year 2033.

It has now written to the landowners with the biggest sites to ask how they think they could provide new, large-scale settlements.

The council will work with authorities in Colchester and Tendring and with community interest company Garden City Developments to look at sites in the three districts.

Lady Patricia Newton, councillor responsible for planning and housing, said: “The local plan process is ongoing, but it is also important that we look at and assess our options in terms of creating new developments.

"The work being undertaken by Garden City Developments will help provide a broader picture on the potential foradevelopment based on the Garden City principles.”