COLCHESTER town centre is in a “healthy” state and has seen millions of pounds of investment in the last five years, according to Tollgate Village chiefs.

Christopher Katkowski, QC, acting on behalf of the Tollgate Partnership, opened his case for the appeal to be approved, citing a “game-changing” £30 million investment in the town centre by department store giant, Fenwick.

Mr Katkowski told the appeal yesterday: “Colchester town centre is healthy.

“Notably, and just by way of example during the lifetime of this planning application, Fenwick’s have completed their £30million investment in their game-changing store, Primark will open this year in the large unit vacated by BHS and Lion Walk [shopping centre] has been sold for a substantial profit.”

He added: “The proposed development would bring with it significant benefits to the local community.

“Indeed, the sheer amount of public support for the proposed development, which has come from a variety of sources including the local MP, town centre retailers and the general public, is notable and unusual for a scheme of this kind.

“The benefits of this development are highly desired by the local community, which has seen large-scale growth in population with much more planned for the future.”

Figures put forward by Tollgate Partnership bosses Daniel Watts and Jayne Gee show an initial £70 million investment would create 1,000 jobs and would bring £17 million into the borough as it would stop Colchester shoppers going elsewhere and would attract people who might otherwise shop in Freeport, Ipswich or Chelmsford to come to Colchester.

In a brief public session, two members of the public also spoke in favour of the proposals.