MORE than ten years after the former Moler Works site at the Hythe was approved for redevelopment, the final piece of the puzzle is being slotted together with scaffolding.

Work on the Colne View development of 37 flats began last summer with a view to it being completed by September.

Heritage Developments, which had its historic planning application decided on in 2006, has been working with contractor TCM Limited and property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood, whose architects believe the project will “transform a key riverside location”.

What will be a six to eight storey building forms part of Colchester Council’s already existing Colne Harbour Masterplan and a steadfast desire to see the Hythe meet its potential as a destination area.

Sarah Clifton, business development manager at Heritage Developments, said: “Colchester is such a modern and progressive town with great links to London we felt it an ideal place for our next development.

“We’re also proud of building high quality homes and felt Colne View would be rightly positioned at the luxury, higher end of the property market.

“The waterfront setting was a particular attraction of this site and with the university located very close by we feel our development will appeal to many.”

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An artist's impression of Colne View. Picture: Ingleton Wood 

The luxe effect has meant 70 per cent of the properties are now sold but the retail unit underneath is still available.

There was a delay in the build, Ms Clifton explained, as “the plot of land has passed through the hands of a few developers”.

She added: “But once we acquired the land, we actioned straight away.”

A decade in planning terms though is not actually that long according to one of the council’s top planning officers Simon Cairns.

The Colne Harbour Masterplan, which sought to balance homes, jobs and access to community facilities, was introduced in the early 2000s.

But regeneration in this under-utilised and complex area of Colchester has fallen victim to several stumbling blocks.

Mr Cairns said: “As we’ve restructured as a country away from heavy manufacturing, a lot of those industries have retreated and we’re left with sites we need to find new uses for, and that’s the classic conundrum

“Since 2008, when the property market crashed, things slowed down inevitably and significantly.

“One of the challenges for development at the Hythe is there are generally very high remediation costs.

“There’s quite a lot of contamination and it costs a lot to clear up those sites.

“So some of that delay is around the viability of development but some of it is simply there’s a finite quantity of developers out there looking for sites at any one time.”

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And also sites do not become available all at once.

For the businesses which have remained there, suitable places to relocate would need to be found elsewhere before new companies can muscle in.

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The flats will add modernity to the Hythe. Picture: Ingleton Wood

He added: “One of the early steps was putting in the infrastructure which wasn’t there before for the sites to become accessible.

“During the 2008 crash, the developer of a lot of land on Lightship Way went bust which is why it was never adopted as a public highway because things fell apart economically.

“As a result some of the stuff which may have come forward earlier, simply haven’t.

“But in terms of the changing character of the area, Sainsbury’s will uplift jobs and create more infrastructure for people who live locally.

“The council is also trying to develop a riverside walk piecemeal through application.

“The Hythe is an ongoing story to transition from being an industrial port to a mixed-use residential area with good accessibility and connectivity to the university, which is hugely important to us.”

Old ports such as London Docklands, Liverpool, Belfast, as well as those in Ipswich and Norwich are a blueprint to how the Hythe can be successfully reinvigorated and developers are certainly interested in settling there.

Sainsbury’s says it is discussing the next step of its move into B&Q with the landlord, meanwhile Square Sail Ltd has submitted an application for 12 two and three-bedroom townhouses at Hythe Quay.

The vacant Rising Sun Pub, which has been so for more than 25 years, and the Victorian Maponite buildings previously occupied by Williams and Griffin are to become housing too.

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The Rising Sun pub in Hythe Station Road

Footballer Rio Ferdinand, alongside pals Bobby Zamora and Mark Noble, is still looking to invest in the Hythe with homes and sports facilities for young people, while Essex University continues to grow its student accommodation.

Planning officer Brad Heffer, speaking alongside Mr Cairns, added: “Silverton Aggregates has moved out of their site in Haven Road and a developer is interested in it.

“The good thing with the Hythe is you’re not seeking to introduce character as it already has one, so whilst is should be an integral part of the town, it will have its own character to celebrate.

“It’s regenerating slowly and beginning to get that vibrancy.”

The parting message from the duo is as time goes on, it is harder for the council to resolve the once industrial sites it is left with, but they reckon they are 75 per cent of the way there.

Download the Colne Harbour Masterplan under 'Supplementary Planning Documents' here.

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