COMMUNITY, transport, housing and health regeneration projects in north Essex and Suffolk have received a potential £17million windfall.The Haven Gateway Partnership is set to receive the Government cash over the next three years, and it could be spent on the likes of transport, schools, parks and health centres.

COMMUNITY, transport, housing and health regeneration projects in north Essex and Suffolk have received a potential £17million windfall.

The Haven Gateway Partnership is set to receive the Government cash over the next three years, and it could be spent on the likes of transport, schools, parks and health centres.

The cash injection was announced by housing minister Yvette Cooper as part of a £732million package for growth areas across the UK.

Haven Gateway, which takes its name from the ports of Harwich, Felixstowe, Ipswich and Mistley, was established in 2001 and includes Colchester, Tendring, Ipswich and the rural parts of south east Suffolk and the Shotley peninsula.

The partnership has been awarded £5.5million capital funding and nearly £600,000 revenue money for 2008/9 with indications it will get £10.5million capital and nearly £830,000 revenue for 2009 to 2011.

The Haven Gateway aims include:

Securing about 50,000 new jobs and 50,000 new houses by 2021.

New container terminal facilities at the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, handling an additional 3.2m containers per year.

The redevelopment of the Ipswich waterfront, including the provision of a new university campus for Suffolk.

Lisa Chambers, Suffolk county councillor in charge of economic and cultural development and Eddy Alcock - the council's representative on the Haven Gateway Partnership board - said in a statement: “The money is vital to secure the extra housing and employment land that is an integral part of the development of these areas.

“The Government has listened and responded in part to the extra pressures that will be put on local schools, transport, health services and other services caused by the likely development.”

But Stephen Castle, in charge of economic development and regeneration at Essex County Council, added: “Although the Haven Gateway funding compares favourably with other areas across the country, it still meets only a fraction of the projects on the county council and the Haven Gateway's 'wish list'.”

The final decision on funding priorities will be made by the partnership's board.

George Courtauld, Haven Gateway chairman, said: “This capital and revenue funding will give the Haven Gateway Partnership board greater flexibility in directing where money is needed most, without repeatedly needing to go back to Government to fund specific infrastructure projects.”