A COUNCIL leader has defended a project to develop garden communities following criticism.

Braintree Council leader Graham Butland said the potential for garden communities must be explored.

If approved, three garden communities across the Braintree, Colchester and Tendring districts could create up to 40,000 homes.

Concerns were raised by campaigners over how quickly plans are moving forward, saying there is little regard for infrastructure.

Mr Butland said: "Of course development of any type is controversial, and it’s easy to say no, but we need to start having a more realistic discussion about how we shape our communities of the future.

“Doing nothing is just not an option, we need to build 180,000 new homes across Essex over the next 30 years, and if we continue building at the same level, we will be 77,000 short.

“This is a problem we can’t simply ignore, and we have a responsibility to our children and grandchildren to ensure they have somewhere to live.

"We also have a responsibility to our businesses and the economic growth of the area to ensure employees have somewhere to a home.

"Homes underpin everything."

However he also said the council has a duty to respect and protect heritage.

A site between Tending and Colchester could deliver up to 9,000 homes, the West Tey site could see 20,000 and the west Braintree site could see 11,000.

Work is now under way to look at whether these new communities are viable.