A GRAND vision for the future development of Dovercourt has been approved by senior councillors.

The Dovercourt Rediscovered masterplan to build a new town centre car park, terraced housing and public open space, was approved and adopted by Tendring Council's cabinet on Friday.

A total of 20 projects are identified in the work and the council's officers have been tasked with bringing forward business cases for three of them.

Mary Newton, Tendring Council's cabinet member for business and economic growth, said Dovercourt Rediscovered highlighted a bright future for the area.

She said: “This masterplan sets out a vibrant and exciting vision for the future of Dovercourt, and one I hope our partners, businesses and residents can all get behind.

“I look forward to now seeing and evaluating business cases for projects within it, and hope we can progress Dovercourt Rediscovered – while recognising it is a long-term initiative.

The projects, known as the Dovercourt Twenty, consist of redevelopment schemes as well as events like festivals and open air cinema.

Labour group leader Ivan Henderson said: “It has been a long time coming, the original vision was actually in 2010 and the area has deteriorated since then.

“This is an opportunity to kick start things.

“But we need to be careful we don’t raise expectations too far and need to be clear with residents of Harwich what is going to be done straight away and what will be done in the future.

“We need to be realistic.”

Mr Henderson said any housing as part of the scheme needs to be tightly controlled as there is an over-abundance of rented housing in the area and the council must ensure landlords are responsible.

Council leader Neil Stock said: “The issue of town centres in decline is a nationwide issue.

“We’re confident this will improve Dovercourt.

"It’s not a miracle overnight cure to make the streets paved with gold, but it is going to be a massive improvement on what we have got.

"We do need the local community, visitors, shopkeepers and prospective shopkeepers to embrace the opportunity.”