TENS of millions of pounds will be spent on regenerating part of Braintree town centre.

Braintree Council has revealed it will spend £30m on revamping Manor Street and Victoria Street in the next two years.

Work is due to begin on the project in February and bosses say it will be completed by August 2021.

The council has remained coy on the overall cost of the scheme until now, but having agreed a contract with Kier Regional Building Eastern, the authority has decided to make the financial details public.

The project will be funded by a combination of existing reserves, "prudential" borrowing, and the sale of the apartments which form part of the scheme.

Corporate transformation boss John McKee said: "Without our investment as a local authority, these improvements to health facilities, the bus station and town centre would just not happen.

"We see this regeneration as the catalyst for change - bringing more people, new businesses and more jobs in to our wonderful town. It's the beginning of an exciting transformation which we believe will encourage other businesses and services to set up home in our town in the future."

Kier's managing director Mark Dady added: "We are specialists in delivering key projects for local authorities nationwide. We work extremely hard to leave a positive footprint on the areas we work in and throughout this project we will be committed to engaging with the local community and working closely with local subcontractors to create a range of job opportunities for those living in the area.

"I'm looking forward to working closely with Braintree Council to deliver this vital project for the people of Braintree.

The regeneration scheme includes a 70-bedroom Travelodge hotel, 35 new homes, a new health centre, pharmacy, cafe and two-storey car park.

Bosses say the health centre will have capacity to have 20,000 patients on its books.

It is hoped the scheme will bring in an extra £3.5m to the economy each year, an extra 24,000 visitors and create 100 new jobs.

The council says it will generate significant rental income which will "more than" offset the cost of the overall project.

A previously smaller regeneration scheme planned for Manor Street by a private developer was estimated to cost £11.5m.

The concept was abandoned in 2014 due to fears it would fail to deliver significant improvement to the town.