Plans to create a mini suburb, including a new stadium for high-flying Braintree Town, could be boosted by a planned £755million investment in Essex.

Essex County Council’s cabinet agreed to stump up £115 for infrastructure projects between 2015 and 2021 ahead of the submission of Essex’s economic growth plan last week.

The plan, co-ordinated by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), will set out a bid for £347million from the government’s Single Local Growth Fund.

District authorities have agreed to contribute a further £17 million between them, while further cash could come from private backers and developer agreements.

Near the top of a lengthy countywide list of potential schemes is the £42million Panfield Lane masterplan, which would include 600 new homes, an extension to Springwood Industrial Estate and a new stadium for Braintree Town Football Club.

Other schemes include the second phase of the £43million Skyline 120 masterplan, which could see up to 55,335 sq ft of employment space filled between the A120 and A131 in Great Notley.

See the Braintree and Witham Times for the full story