Where Colchester Council is looking to invest £43 million in town

The council’s Cabinet unanimously approved the authority’s capital strategy and capital programme, which will see it invest upwards of £43 million across the borough over the next few years.

Further cash will also be brought in from outside sources to boost the capital programme, the total value of which is more than £50 million.

About £40 million will be spent on the authority’s Housing Investment Programme, which will see hundreds of affordable homes built over the next few years.

About £5.7 million in total, £900,000 from the council, will be spent creating new business units at the old bus garage in Queen Street whilst investment is also planned in the town centre with £671,000 allocated for the creation of St Nicholas Square and £130,000 for a new lift at Vineyard Street car park.

CGI - how St Nicholas Square in Colchester will look if plans go ahead

The council is set to spend £1.1 million of its own money and £1.5 million in total creating a new community centre in Highwoods, run by the local church.

More than £1.5 million will be invested in the Mercury Theatre’s redevelopment with the council’s offices at Rowan House also set for £1.7 million investment.

More cash is set aside for the Northern Gateway and £350,000 will be spent on A12 improvements at junction 28.

Vision - the new Northern Gateway Sports Park

The Garrison gym playground is set for a £306,000 upgrade with investment also planned at the Coast Road pontoon in Mersea, Colchester Cemetery and Leisure World.

A total of £114,000 will be used to create electric vehicle charging points, £1.2 million to upgrade the council’s fleet, £120,000 for new cameras at Leisure World and £100,000 for new signs for the Northern Gateway Sports Park.

David King, the council’s business boss, said: “Despite the severe pressures on our day-to-day revenue spending, capital investment in our borough is prudent and affordable at a time of low interest rates and is vital to economic and pandemic recovery.

“This council will do all it can to attract and secure investment that will preserve or create jobs – hugely important at a terrible time for retail and hospitality.”

“With over £43 million of capital investment spent on tackling climate change, economic growth, health and wellbeing, improved homes and the attractiveness of Colchester as a destination, our strategic vision and capital programme work together to create an inspiring vision for Colchester.”

“They are made up of key ambitions that we can all work towards, to make Colchester an even better place in which to work, live and visit. Vital, when the new priority will soon be to attract other investment and what will help retail and hospitality jobs.”

The council also hopes to secure £25 million from the Government’s Town Deal fund for investment things like a new community hub for Greenstead, a state-of-the-art youth centre and investigation work at Jumbo.

Cash - Colchester Council leader Mark Cory

Council leader Mark Cory said: “The programme set out ambitious plans to make Colchester a better borough – a place where everyone has a chance to succeed, where nobody gets left behind and where everyone can see the investment being made to their town.”

“Despite some extremely harsh economic challenges made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, the Capital Programme reflects our long-term vision and commitment to invest in our communities, buildings and infrastructure in ways that will deliver tangible and sustainable benefits for all – helping us recover from this terrible pandemic and making the future of Colchester even better than it is today.”

The capital programme will go to the full council for approval.

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