MULTI-MILLION pound plans to transform Colchester’s Cowdray Centre have been submitted.

Owner F&C Commercial Property Trust revealed in May that it wanted to build 154 homes on part of the centre, which has sat empty since it was hit by fire in 2006.

Proposals for a doctors’ surgery, about 330 car parking spaces and a cycle path linking the houses with Colchester North Station and High Woods Country Park were also included in the plans.

Now the plans have been formally lodged with Colchester Council to consider, with a decision expected by the end of the year.

The proposals include to demolish existing buildings on the site to make way for the homes, with about 2,500sq m of space for 12 warehouses and industrial units.

Maurice Fitzgerald, development director for BMO Real Estate Partners, which is publishing the proposals on behalf of the trust, said if given approval, the site could be developed by around mid-2017.

He added: “The majority of the site has been demolished.

There are some older buildings at one end of the site which have temporary occupancies.

“These are the buildings which would be demolished in the future.

“All of the occupiers are on short-term arrangements because the site has been marketed for development for the last seven years.”

Mr Fitzgerald said the doctors’ surgery could be created subject to demand and sanctioning by the NHS. Other businesses encouraged to take up the warehouse space could be varied, he said, adding: “They are not being targeted for one particular use, some storage, some light industrial.”

A traffic assessment in the plans by consultants Cannon concludes how the development would have a “minimal impact” on traffic junctions.

Surveys undertaken in February recorded 23,140 two-way traffic flows using Cowdray Avenue between 7am and 7pm.

The latest proposals would not affect stores on the west of the centre, including the Range, Go Bananas play centre and Pickfords, which would remain.

Those using the warehouses to the east of the Cowdray Centre will be given the opportunity to move to newer premises once they are built.

If given the green light, more detailed proposals to set out the exact number of homes, car parking spaces and layout of the site will be submitted.