An innovation centre aiming to boost the construction industry in Essex is being planned for Witham.

Braintree Council is working on proposals for what it is calling Witham Innovation Centre - a centre which will support the sector by providing business support to entrepreneurs and space for companies to move into as they grow.

Essex County Council are also involved in the plans, and County Hall has agreed provisionally to provide £1.8 million in funding for the project between 2019 and 2021.

Another £500,000 of funding has also been committed by Braintree Council, for what it has called Witham Enterprise Centre.

Braintree Enterprise Centre, in the Springwood Drive Industrial Estate, is currently managed by Ignite Business and offers small, mixed-use units for small businesses to rent.

It is believed the proposed Witham centre could be in a similar mould, with particular focus being given to the construction industries, where there is a skills shortage in the UK.

Tom Cunningham, councillor responsible for economic development, said: “We are looking at a number of options to provide an innovation centre to support a European funding bid for the construction sector.

“We are also committed to the creation of an Enterprise Centre in Witham to help support and grow businesses as well as create more employment opportunities for residents.”

It is not known where the Witham Enterprise Centre will be built.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “There is much detail to still work through across both partners and to that end the project remains an aspirational part of Essex County Council’s capital programme.”