A giant business park which could bring 2,000 jobs to Braintree is in the pipeline, it has been revealed.

Braintree Council is preparing to buy land for the 700,000sq ft park.

The 63 acre site, about the size of 42 football pitches, is located to the west of the A131 at Great Notley.

The proposed business park would provide a mixture of industrial and office floorspace but could also include a hotel and leisure facilities.

A developer was working on plans for an “innovation and enterprise park” on the same piece of land, called Eastlink 120, however the move faltered when its purchase option expired in 2016.

Now Braintree Council is set to step in order to keep the plans moving.

John McKee, councillor responsible for asset management and corporate services, said: “This exciting proposed investment will attract business growth and provide new high quality employment opportunities in the district.

“What matters to our residents are health and homes, journeys and jobs and this investment is just one example of us achieving this so we can benefit residents and improve on the services they rely on.”

The council is proposing to initially purchase the land and then develop a detailed business case for approval by members.

This business case will detail things like what kind of properties will be built at the site and the surrounding infrastructure such as roads and public transport.

Early estimates say the business park could provide 2,000 jobs, which would help accommodate for population growth in the area.

Mr McKee said: “We can no longer depend on central government funding our district and our district is growing – so we have had to find new ways of working to create a financial return so we can continue to provide those frontline services.

“We are a strong, ambitious authority for a strong and ambitious district which deserves investment. Our residents and businesses need it and we are delivering it.”

A report will go before the cabinet on Monday, February 5, then to full council for approval.

If members approve, contracts on the land could be exchanges as soon as the spring. A planning application is expected by late summer, with Braintree Council hoping by the beginning of 2019 everything would be in place to start development.