Locations for Growth

A transformation befitting Colchester’s ambitious growth plans

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Colchester is undergoing a £3bn transformation, making it a location with ambitious growth plans. From creating new sport and lesiure experiences to attractive new housing and an improved Town Centre, Colchester’s outstanding potential is being taken to the next level, making it an extremely exciting and dynamic place for business. Colchester City Council is a forward thinking organisation, welcoming partnerships with public and private sector organisations to make the district a truly amazing place to be. The Council is proactive and open to discussion around how projects can be realised.

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Local Plan Employment Land

Colchester Northern Gateway

This employment area is currently being developed as a new regional sport, business & leisure destination to the north of the town. This new development will maximise its potential from its prime location adjacent to Junction 28 of the A12 for enhanced connectivity to the Colchester’s Northern Gateway and for the retention and expansion of Severalls Business Park nearby. Two plots of land, designated for B1 use, are currently available at the Colchester Northern Gateway: one 10.5 acres (4.26Ha) and 4.2 acres (1.7Ha).

Read more about the Northern Gateway

Knowledge Gateway at the University of Essex

…with the University’s growth plans which draw on a global reputation for analytics and data science and outstanding support for SMEs. The Knowledge Gateway is quickly becoming the location of choice in the eastern region for knowledge-based enterprises in science, technology and the creative sector. In addition the location will realise benefits linked to the proposed University Garden Village to the east of Colchester.

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West Colchester

…with good access to the strategic road network at Junction 26 of the A12 and A120 through to Stansted Airport. It contains a mix of commercial uses including retail and B-use employment floorspace.

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Town Centre

..in a programme of ongoing private and public sector projects to improve Colchester Town Centre. These projects are aiming to expand and improve the already outstanding potential of the City, bringing out the best of its history and heritage along the way.

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East Colchester

is emerging at the Hythe, the town’s former port. The £13m regeneration programme is creating a mixed-use development alongside the River Colne with 100,000 sq ft of commercial space, 2000 new homes and improved transport links.

Garden Communities

Plans for visionary and ambitious new garden communities that aim to address long term housing, transport, infrastructure, open space, and employment needs across North Essex have been revealed.

Braintree District Council, Colchester City Council and Tendring District Council have been working together along with Essex County Council since 2014 to address growth issues across their areas and North Essex as a whole.

All three districts are working on their draft local plans which will set the direction for future growth. To comply with national guidelines and to meet locally-driven demand North Essex must build more than 2,186 new homes per year along with the required infrastructure and associated employment.

To address these substantial growth requirements, the Councils are thinking long-term and are proposing new garden communities within which much of the growth will be located.