A tramline linking Braintree town centre to Freeport and a planned huge new shopping and housing development is in the pipeline.

Ambitious plans to create better links between out-of-town stores and traditional shopping areas also include a park-and-ride scheme.

The Williams Group owns Braintree Retail Park, adjacent to Freeport, which includes M&S Food, TGI Fridays and Prezzo.

It has been working with renowned architect Lord Rogers – who designed France’s Pompidou Centre and the Millennium Dome – on plans to make land south of the A120 a “focal point” for the expansion of Braintree.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.