Up to £10million could be spent by Tendring District Council (TDC) in Jaywick to kick-start redevelopment of the area.

Senior councillors agreed on Friday to buy land in the area which can be used to build new council housing.

It is hoped by injecting some direct investment into Jaywick, which includes Brooklands the most deprived area of the country according to national figures, the council can encourage other developers to follow suit.

The EADT first revealed the initiative in March, and in June the authority said it had a £1m funding pot to draw from.

But at Friday’s cabinet meeting councillor Paul Honeywood, responsible for housing, said he hoped to find £10m for the project.

Mr Honeywood said: “I am delighted that following successful discussion with various landholders this decision has been made which signifies the first real investment ever made in this area.

“This will be the incentive needed for further development and fits in with our plans to provide local homes for local people.

“I am looking to identify up to £10m of funding from within the Housing Service to kick-start this development and I would hope that this will bring forward further investment from elsewhere.”

The land purchase is subject to contracts being agreed, but officers say they are confident of securing deals with the owners as provisional agreements have been reached.

TDC also hopes to get Essex County Council to facilitate investment in the area, and to further boost the local economy by using local tradesmen for the construction.

Council leader Mick Page added: “We have always believed that the best way to regenerate Jaywick is by the development of new council homes and this decision confirms our objectives.”