Up to £100 million could be pumped into roads and homes in the Braintree district thanks to a government fund.

It means proposed improvements to the A12 could go ahead in order to provide access to the potential Marks Tey garden community.

North Essex has been shortlisted for the Housing and Infrastructure Fund which is designed to improve infrastructure and kick-start housing developments.

Braintree District Council has been working in partnership with Essex County Council and councils in Colchester and Tendring on several bids for funding.

Graham Butland, the leader of the council, said: "This announcement supports our garden community work and will help us create good quality places for our children and grandchildren to live.

"This funding will help us improve plans for the West Colchester Garden Community infrastructure.

"For us, the infrastructure is just as important as the homes themselves."

John Spence CBE, the chairman of North Essex Garden Communities, said: "The driving ambition of NEGC is to ensure the new development is properly planned and delivered in a better way, ensuring that the right infrastructure is in place at the right time to enable new settlements to function from day one.

"That is why we at NEGC are delighted that the HIF bids supporting two of our garden communities have been successful in reaching the next stage.

"This now enables NEGC to work closely with Homes England to ensure that the strategic road infrastructure improvements supported by the HIF bids are planned in a manner that underpins the development of sustainable, holistically planned garden communities where people want to live, work and play.

"We are determined to develop true garden settlements and we are delighted that the Government has backed this bold ambition to create something truly special in North Essex.

"Finally, we look forward to working with existing residents and communities to achieve outcomes that work for all."