SECRET new plans are being drawn for the future of the former Jacks shop in Colchester town centre - but they are being kept under wraps.

Colchester Council’s regeneration bid for the empty premises is on the agenda for the next full council meeting on January 31.

Paul Smith, leader of the council, has confirmed the proposals deviate from those introduced last April, which were to create retail space on the ground floor and seven one and two-bedroom flats above.

However, he refused to divulge details of the proposals while talks continue.

He said: “We’ve had another proposal for Jacks but we can’t go into details at the moment because the company involved has asked us to remain confidential at this stage so we have to respect that.”

The proposals will be discussed behind closed doors in a confidential part of the meeting.

All the cabinet will be told in public is there has been another proposal which “doesn’t involve residential accommodation”.

If plans for the former shop are agreed, the council can then go ahead with revamping it in order to lease out the building.

He said: “We have to wait until there’s an agreement with the investors or a planning application has been submitted to the council to be able to say any more.

“I think people will be pleased and quite excited when the plans come to fruition as they will enhance the town centre.

“They’re suitable and in keeping with the area.”

Gazette:

Councillors Paul Smith and Annie Feltham 

There have been rumours the popular venue Three Wise Monkeys is looking to potentially extend its business to the ground floor of Jacks, which stretches between St Nicholas Street and Culver Street.

However, Mr Smith said he was unable to comment on the speculation.

He said: “If we want to invest in the future of the borough and underpin its growth, we have to make the most of existing commercial spaces and utilise our town centre assets as the borough grows.

“We’ll be carefully considering these innovative proposals.

“However, it’s clear we need to bring this underused, important building back into economic use to help stimulate further inward investment, deliver jobs and help meet the Council’s future financial targets.”

Jacks was fully vacated last April and Colchester Archaeological Trust began carrying out surveys to check for any historic treasures beneath the building.

The council submitted its plans for the historic building in May 2016, using the Revolving Investment Fund to finance the project.

It was a strictly commercial venture so the council intended to sell or rent out the properties once they were finished.

The Gazette contacted the Three Wise Monkeys about the speculation it was looking to take over part of Jacks but it declined to comment.