COLCHESTER’S regeneration boss says he is committed to turning a former town centre police station into a creative business centre despite a delay in European funding to pay for it.

Nick Barlow, borough councillor responsible for regeneration, said even if an application for funding is turned down to convert the former police station, in Queen Street, into a creative business hub, he is determined to find another way to pay for it.

Colchester Council owns the building and has applied to the European Regional Development Fund for grant funding.

In total, it needs about £2million for the project.

Mr Barlow said: “The council is committed one way or another to build the creative business hub.

“We are still waiting to hear from the European Regional Development Fund and the plans is still to turn it into a creative business centre.

“If that’s not the case and we’re turned down, we will look at other sources of funding.

“There are a number of opportunities through government and other European organisations we could explore.

“Because we have got a lot of interest in that area, there are other things coming forward which could help with that development, such as securing section 106 money.”