JAYWICK has clinched Coastal Community Team status in a new pilot scheme to help boost the area.

The special status has been awarded by the Government, which will also give Tendring Council £10,000 to spend on engaging the community. It is designed to help regenerate Jaywick.

The council has already started on a masterplan to build new homes in an effort to kick-start an upturn in the area.

The Government cash, provided through the Coastal Community Team status, will help pave the way for the proposals.

It will help pay for public consultations and architects’ plans, as well as supporting funding bids.

Council housing boss Paul Honeywood said: “We want to be able to deliver the economic, physical and life chances that our residents deserve.

“The £10,000 is for community engagement and pump priming, but getting this status will also give us the heads-up on other funding as we go along.

“Appropriate consultation and engagement with the local community will be time-consuming and resource intensive, given the scale of the community being engaged.

“The grant will help to ensure that other taxpayers in Tendring do not have to meet additional costs.”

Tendring Council is working with the Government and Essex County Council, as well as the private sector, to make the Jaywick revamp possible.

Mr Honeywood added: “We aim to make a real difference to people’s lives.

“Hopefully, with the work we have already done – and the road and drainage improvements being started by Essex County Council this week – people can see that we mean to deliver on the commitments we have made.”