Tendring could get a new town in the millennium.

A major home builder is airing a fresh look at plans in the three Greens area around Frating and a local landowner has a second scheme centred around Boudge Hill in Great Bromley.

In the last three years, villagers living near the two sites have joined forces in a determined campaign against rural development.

The previous schemes failed to get off the drawing boards but now the plans will go before a panel of experts at a public meeting in Chelmsford in July to see if they will be included in the county's new Structure Plan for the next decade.

Property developers Wimpey Homes want to build on the 400-acre site based on Balls Green near the A120/A133 junction.

The scheme to build 2,000 homes also includes a business park, school, shops and sports facilities.

Paul Garber, speaking for Wimpey, said of the plan: "It reflects employment and housing to meet the needs of the community. It will be a sustainable community."

The second scheme by landowner Charles Pirie of C.J.Pirie and Co centres on 340-acres around Great Bromley on the A120 between Frating and The Crown interchange.

It includes about 1,500 new homes on 125 acres of the land, an industrial estate, new school, 46-acre country park and shopping centre.

Ray Ricks, on behalf of the landowners, said: "The scheme has been put forward as an alternative to the Wimpey one and is viewed as a more suitable location and of village size."

The issues will be discussed in public on July 7 at Christ Church, New London Road, at 10am, and the panel of experts will report back to Essex County Council with comments in readiness for the New Structure Plan which looks at development throughout the county from the year 2001 to 2011.

The decision rests with the county council and then the district council adopts its own Local Plan.

Parish councils around West Tendring have already been invited to attend.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.