All we know about student flats plan for Colne Quay in Colchester

Beyond the Box has launched a website for the redevelopment of Colne Quay, in Hythe, Colchester.

The Colchester-based firm is looking to create more than 300 bedrooms students at the former industrial site.

If permission is granted, the flats will be created across several blocks ranging from four to ten storeys in height, with architects Whittam Cox, who worked on the Bond Street development in Chelmsford, designing the proposals.

Beyond the Box, which runs a village for University of Essex students off Avon Way in Greenstead, says the development will:

• Deliver a multi-million pound investment in the local area
• Create local jobs during construction (as a local business we employ local builders and contractors) and long-term site management jobs
• Bring student spending power of approximately £1.75m per year to local businesses around Colne Quay
• Create flexible commercial space, which could be used for a retail outlet, office space, a café or a community use

Colne Quay was home to Colchester Gasworks for more than 100 years before it was vacated and the buildings demolished in the 1970s.

Read more: 

• First look at plan for 300 new student flats in Hythe, Colchester
• European Transplant games medallist dies from Covid-19
• Royal Mail: The Essex postcodes affected by delays due to Covid

The website says: "Beyond The Box’s plan to regenerate the brownfield site will bring it back into use, transform it and enable public access.

"The principle of development of the Colne Quay site is supported by Colchester Borough Council’s planning policy. Colchester’s adopted Development Plan and its emerging Local Plan both encourage development that supports the borough’s objectives for the Hythe area including regeneration, new housing and environmental enhancements."

The site has been empty for some time and Colchester Council has identified Hythe as an area for new student housing.

The website says: “The Colne Quay site is currently derelict, overgrown and inaccessible.

“As well as transforming it with a student housing development, Beyond The Box will enable wider public access.

“We will rebuild the river wall alongside the site and reinstate a river path to provide a safe pedestrian link from the Colne Causeway roundabout to the River Colne footbridge.”

“The vision for the development will be to combine some of the design heritage of the Hythe area with up to date architectural trends to create a modern interpretation of the industrial port warehouses and buildings synonymous with the area."

The developer says the University of Essex is in need of new student accommodation to cope with its proposed growth.

“The University of Essex is growing but there is a shortage of student housing in Colchester, particularly for second year plus students, which threatens to undermine the university’s ability to attract students.

“The development at Colne Quay will be a major contribution towards plugging this housing shortage, with circa 300 high quality, en-suite student bedrooms.

“Beyond The Box will ensure the highest standard of accommodation management.

“Our purpose-built student accommodation will provide a quality experience for students. It will include state of the art shared amenity space and facilities.

“It will be run by on site staff trained in providing pastoral and emotional support as well as effective day-to-day management of the accommodation.”

Visit www.colnequay.com to comment on the proposals or find out more.