THE boss of a nearby business centre has thrown her weight behind controversial plans for Colchester's cultural quarter.

Anna Harding, chief executive of SPACE, which runs Colchester's Creative Business Centre at 37 Queen Street, has written to Colchester Council.

In her letter of support, she states: "If Alumno Group's proposals are approved, we will manage and let new studio spaces to the ground floor of the southern student block and studio spaces within the hotel block.

"This is welcomed given our facility at 37 Queen Street is in high demand.

"We are in discussions with Alumno regarding new studio space which will extend our long term investment in Colchester and further enhance and diversify our offer.

"We have worked with Alumno on three projects previously, having just taken over 22 studios in their recently completed project in Stratford, London, and believe this development will make a significant positive contribution to the local area."

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She adds: "SPACE considers our studio provision as complementary to student accommodation within the same building, it will enable students to witness people in the workplace and feel more rooted to the local community, we feel that a good partnership could be made between SPACE and the Colchester school of art.

"Over the last three years Alumno have provided a bursary to one of our studios for graduating art students from Goldsmiths, University of London, so this could be a great link that could be nurtured.

"Our SPACE Toolkit program is going down well at 37 Queen Street and attracts a wide range of Colchester attendees. Alumno are kind sponsors of the Autumn programme.

"We are proud to have Alumno as one of this year?s sponsors and feel this could be a great way to help integrate the students and the creative community.

"We are excited to work with Alumno again, and to be part of this project."