A NEW town square could be created in Dovercourt as part of a £1million regeneration plan, it has been revealed.

Tendring Council could use its New Homes Bonus from the Government to pay for “public realm works” in the area.

It is understood one of the potential regeneration areas could be the former Starlings site, in Main Road, which was torn town after being left derelict following a fire in 2012.

Giles Watling, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We have been very heavily focused on the Dovercourt and Harwich area knowing there are some issues that desperately need addressing in terms of the public realm.

“This £1million really will be a game changer for the area in terms of regeneration.”

“It will be a massive boost for the town centre.”

A report allocating the cash is set to go before Tendring Council’s cabinet today, although the authority’s budget will not be rubber-stamped until later this year.

Harwich town and district councillor Ivan Henderson welcomed the investment as a shot in the arm for Dovercourt.

He said: “I’m pleased to be working jointly with Giles Watling and the council’s chief executive Ian Davidson on making improvements to the town and I’m really pleased this £1million has been set aside to do that.

“One of the things I really want is have a town centre that the community feel they could enjoy and spend more time in. In turn that would create better opportunities for retail.

“In the past I have looked at other town centres and been quite envious of them.

“It would be great if we had a meeting place or a town square where people could spend time together.

“I’m also keen to see any changes that take place give us the opportunity for parking and a transport hub, so instead of busses blocking the town centre they could pull in and drop people off.”

Carlo Guglielmi, cabinet member for finance, said he was pleased the authority would be spending the New Homes Bonus on infrastructure rather than using it to prop up its finances in the face of government cuts.

The Government cash bonus is granted to councils to incentivise housing growth in their areas.

“Too many times we get accused of not providing infrastructure first in new developments,” he said.

“We have often been criticised for neglecting some of our town centres.

“I am very proud this council has not used the New Homes Bonus to prop up its revenue budget as some authorities have so done,” he said.

“But instead we will be using our share of this windfall revenue to fund worthwhile projects, which will continue to keep Tendring on the map as well as increasing income opportunities for the future.”