A bypass for Great Notley has been given the green light by regional planners anxious to introduce improvements in the road network between Chelmsford and Braintree.

A north-east bypass of Chelmsford also looks set for the go- ahead.

The news was given to Essex County Council's cabinet on Tuesday as it considered its response to Government proposals to force the county to accept a further 131,000 new homes between now and 2021.

The bypass of Chelmsford would stretch from Essex Regiment Way, north of Channels Golf Club and New Hall, to the Boreham Interchange, where it would link with the A12.

The bypass of Great Notley would connect the Great Leighs bypass with the new A120.

The schemes are described in a county council report as being the missing links in a smooth run from the M11 at Stansted Airport to the Thames Gateway.

The Braintree scheme is due to be built between 2006 and 2010, subject to the usual planning requirements, and the Chelmsford bypass is scheduled for 2011 to 2015.

The council is now hopeful of cutting the number of houses allocated to around 125,000, although it is sticking to its fight for no more than 110,400.

The full county council will debate the issue on October 12.

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