A MASSIVE leisure and retail park will cause “a decade of stagnation” in Colchester town centre, according to a report.

Colchester Council commissioned a study looking at the potential consequences of Tollgate Village – shops, restaurants and a cinema on 20 acres of land in Stanway.

The report by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners said it would lead to the town centre to stagnate to a long period and jeopardise the proposed Curzon cinema and Vineyard Gate shopping centre.

Jayne Gee and Daniel Watts, directors of the Tollgate Partnership, say it is “perverse” their scheme, which will create more than 1,000 jobs and provide leisure and retail facilities, is being stalled in the “misconceived hope” the Vineyard Gate scheme will come forward.

The report by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners said: n The town centre has 67,000 square metres of space where shops could be developed.

 Between the town centre and the proposed Vineyard Gate development, there is capacity to “soak up” projected spending growth without the need for Tollgate Village.

 The vacancy rate in the town centre, which is 12 per cent, would stagnate if new shops were not brought in.

 If Tollgate Village shops are fashion-led, spending in the town centre will fall from £714million to £616million by 2019 (if Tollgate Village is built in 2017).

The Vineyard Gate shopping centre, to be developed by Caddick, will include a big-name anchor store and smaller shops and restaurants over 16,000 square metres.

The shopping centre, which would create about 750 jobs, has been mooted for more than a decade.

Colchester Council last year put £5million towards the project, but plans have stalled.

Paul Smith, leader of Colchester Council, said: “Where Vineyard Gate is concerned, the possibility of a large out-of-town retail development would have a negative impact on the town centre.

“The uncertainty there could be out-of-town development will make big retailers reluctant to take out a lease if they find out the main shopping centre has moved from the town centre to Stanway, or wherever.”

The report says Tollgate Village’s report did not assess the impact an out-of-town cinema could have on the Odeon Cinema, in Head Street, or the proposed Curzon cinema, in Queen Street.

Jayne Gee and Daniel Watts, directors of the Tollgate Partnership, said they are reviewing the report by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners and will respond ahead of Colchester Council’s planning committee discussing the application on December 17.

The statement said: “It is disappointing it has taken the council 10 months to publish this report, given we have been discussing our plans with them for a number of years.

“It is important to note the report does not conclude the Tollgate Village scheme will have a significant adverse impact on Colchester town centre, which is the relevant planning policy test.

“It does say the proposal will impact on the delivery of the Vineyard Gate scheme – a scheme that has been mooted for the past 15 years, but shows no signs of being delivered.

“It seems somewhat perverse our scheme is being stalled in the misconceived hope the Vineyard Gate scheme will come forward.

“Our proposal will improve retail and leisure provision for the whole of Colchester and will create more than 1,000 job opportunities.

“The scheme has received overwhelming public support at a consultation event held last year and we sincerely hope Colchester Councillors will take the public’s views into consideration in reaching a decision.”