THE long wait for the regeneration of Colchester’s St Botolph’s Quarter will soon come to an end, a developer has pledged.

Over the last nine years, Colchester Council has spent millions buying land and hiring consultants to draw up plans in so far failed attempts to redevelop land off Queen Street.

This week, following a series of setbacks, the authority announced it had selected Norwich-based Building Partnerships to transform land including the former bus station, First’s bus depot and St James House.

Chairman Paul Knowles said his firm’s plans for a hotel, restaurants, cafes and 50 homes, combined with Firstsite and the forthcoming Curzon cinema planned for the former Keddies building, will be worth the wait.

See Wednesday's Gazette for the full story