FOUR projects in Essex are among a total of 12 schemes which have been provisionally accepted to share �40.7million of funding secured by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership under the Government’s Growing Places Fund.

Together, the 12 projects are said to have the potential to create more than 26,000, and they will also unlock the opportunity to build more than 17.000 new homes.

The funding is designed to help push forward developments that may have stalled as a result of the financial climate to enable the creation of new jobs and homes.

Among the schemes awarded backing are North Colchester Connectivity, which is to receive �4.9million, and the Parkside Office Village, at the University of Essex in Colchester, which has been awarded �2.4m.

Also to benefit are the Chelmsford North East Urban Expansion, awarded �1m, and Enterprise West Essex@Harlow, �3.5m.

The either other successful projects are spread across Kent and East Sussex, which are also covered by the South East LEP.

John Spence, South East LEP chairman, said: “We have prioritised schemes that will optimise growth and prosperity across SELEP, which can be delivered quickly, and will provide a timely boost to many of our growth areas. The positive economic impact of these projects will reverberate across UK plc.

“It is right that the Government is supporting the South East LEP and other LEPs to target the schemes that best meet the challenges for their own areas. We could have used our allocation three times over in funding schemes of major importance.

“We are committed to developing the most enterprising economy in England and recognise that in targeting the right schemes in the South East, we will have a catalytic impact on the future prosperity of the country at large”.

The schemes which have been approved by the LEP today are approved to go to full appraisal stage. Levels of funding required may be reduced, and status of the projects in Growing Places Fund terms may be affected by this final stage of examination.