A BID to entice Channel 4 to open a new centre in Colchester has been unveiled.

The broadcaster has announced it will be moving much of its production out of London to operate at various sites.

Colchester Council, which is part of the bidding team, has confirmed it sent a “bold prospectus” to Channel 4’s chief executive Alex Mahon and project lead Jonathan Allen.

It sets out the town’s bid to host a Channel 4 creative hub and bureau.

The bid, developed with business expansion organisation INVEST Essex, and Essex University, outlines eight key reasons why Colchester is a great location, “an investment hotspot” and how the bidders “can deliver a bespoke approach for a new base that will entice Channel 4 to come east”.

David Rooke, INVEST Essex’s location services director, said: “INVEST Essex fully supports Colchester’s bid to house a Channel 4 Creative Hub as Colchester has long been a hub for thriving and diverse popular culture with locals of the town including Blur lead singer Damon Albarn, TV host Dermot O’Leary and punk poet John Cooper Clarke.

“Colchester’s facilities for nurturing creative talent such as the SPACE Studios and East 15 acting school, attended by Channel 4’s Inbetweeners actor Blake Harrison, are just another indicator of what the east of England’s most forward-thinking location has to offer the creative scene.”

The bid also draws on support from cultural leaders in Colchester including Steve Mannix, chief executive of the Mercury Theatre, Rachel Hipkiss, chief executive of Signals arts charity and Hayley Dixon, project manager of Radical Essex.

Colchester Council chief executive Adrian Pritchard said: “With access to Ultrafast Gigabit broadband, a choice of three different spaces to relocate to, access to a strong creative and digital talent pool and network of TV and digital companies in the locality, Colchester’s bid to Channel 4 is really compelling.”

Channel 4 plans to establish three News bureaux, with one to emerge as a headquarters with a studio, digital and commissioning centre.

In time, 300 Channel 4 jobs will be based in the UK’s nations and regions.

The broadcaster will retain its London base, along with 500 jobs.

A decision on locations will be made by Channel 4 later this year.

While the council won’t be drawn on specific locations, it has said the Northern Gateway, Knowledge Gateway and the town centre all have space for growth.

Colchester is also close to a range of quintessential English filming locations including Constable Country.

Last month it was revealed creative businesses in Colchester add at least £332 million to the town’s economy a year.

Colchester was highlighted in the Government’s latest ‘Sector Deal’ for the creative industries, published at the end of March.