HUNDREDS of homes will have been built in Colchester on former Government owned land by 2020.

Between 2011 and 2020 a total of 1,409 houses will have been added to the town in this way.

It is part of a programme to use Government brownfield sites to build about 20,000 homes in the East of England.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: “Housebuilding is at the heart of the Government’s long-term economic plan.

“That’s why, rather than leaving surplus public sector land idle, we are putting it to good use by releasing it to build new homes across the country.

“I want to see councils following Whitehall’s example and explore what they can do to release land and deliver new homes.”

887 will have been completed in Basildon by 2020, 46 in Braintree and 587 in Chelmsford.

Also 59 in Southend, 39 in Tendring and 489 in Thurrock.

Colchester is one of the fastest growing district in any shire county in England with almost 10,000 new homes built in the past decade.

By March 2016 it is expected to be the fastest growing with 11,000.

However the extra infrastructure has not been put in place at the same rate leading to clogged roads, a struggling hospital and full schools.

New schools are being built and others expanded, new roads planned, including a three lane A12, and work is being done to alleviate pressure on the hospital but the homes are already here.