A TOP level review on the North Essex Garden Communities project has been welcomed by Tendring Council bosses.

The project, which could involve around 33,000 homes on sites in the Tendring, Braintree and Colchester areas, has been hailed as having the potential to be one of the most important of its kind in the country.

Carlo Guglielmi, Deputy Leader of TDC, said the Tendring and Colchester Border garden community, was highlighted in the review.

“This is a ground-breaking initiative and has never been done in the same way anywhere else in the country,” he added.

“We are working with Braintree District Council, Colchester Borough Council and Essex County Council on this project to achieve a positive outcome. I am pleased that what we want to do has now been scrutinised at this highest level.”

The review was carried out by Lord Kerslake, previously head of the Civil Service and former Chief Executive of the Homes and Community Agency, and a team of experts from a range of disciplines.

Chief Executive Ian Davidson described it as an ambitious initiative and said the Council is currently recruiting a Corporate Director of Planning and Regeneration to support it.

Martyn Knappett, Tendring Coucnil's corporate director leading on the project, added: “The next six months will be critical.

“There is a lot of work to do and nothing is being hidden. The peer review is there for all to see – warts and all. There is plenty of praise but also some challenges and difficult issues to address.”

At this stage the four councils involved are developing business cases as well as a range of supporting evidence for each of the proposed new communities.

They are working together to come up with an action plan to move forward.