ENGLAND football legend Rio Ferdinand is behind multi-million regeneration plans in Colchester, it can be revealed.

The Legacy Foundation, which is run by the former Manchester United captain alongside stars Bobby Zamora and Mark Noble, hopes to transform derelict parts of the Hythe by building hundreds of homes and state-of-art sport facilities.

As much as 35 per cent of the homes would be set aside for social housing.

The foundation has submitted initial plans to Colchester Council to develop the scheme on disused land, in Haven Road, including the former Coldock site.

It is understood a feasibility study has already been carried out but a full business case will not be presented to the council until the end of this year.

Colchester Council is considering bidding for £10 million from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency in order to support the plans.

The cash would also pay to examine why there has been a “market failure” in the area.

In a report set to go before senior councillors, it states the development could “unlock the significant regeneration of a substantial brownfield area at the Hythe”.

It also labels the proposals as “an exciting opportunity”.

The report states: “This could include several hundred new homes with potentially 35 per cent affordable housing and substantial health facilities, significantly impacting on lifestyle choices in the locality.”

Council bosses also hope the scheme could act as a catalyst for more regeneration in the area.

The report adds: “The Hythe is an area that will greatly benefit from further regeneration activities and suffers from a range of environmental problems such as flooding, odours from the local sewage works, lack of active sports facilities and limited health facilities.

“The council has been working with the Legacy Foundation to review the opportunity presented in the area.”

It is understood senior councillors have looked at developing the brownfield sites independently but decided that would carry a “high degree of risk” and it would require the council to take too much of a risk on a large-scale project.

The proposals were first mooted in secret last December but this is the first time the plans have been confirmed by Colchester Council.

A statement on the foundation’s website states: “We aim to deliver schemes for local authorities that not only reduce the pressure on affordable housing and community services, but will empower their tenants through onsite community and sporting facilities

“We will be working with funding partners to devise a scheme that is both affordable and accessible for all.”