A THOUSAND year old church, the iconic Jumbo tower and community facilities in Greenstead are all set to be revived as part of an £18million shot in the arm for the city.

Colchester Council has confirmed it has been awarded the cash from the Government's Town Deal fund to invest in projects that will benefit residents across the city.

The authority said another £1 million cash injection for improvement schemes at Balkerne Gate and St Nicholas Square was awarded in September 2020.

The first £5.8 million instalment of the funding will be directed towards a range of projects identified following a consultation involving more than 1,000 people.

They will include restoring the Holy Trinity Church, in Lion Walk, and the first phase of restoring the Victorian Jumbo water tower.

The council has also pledged to use the money to "transform" community facilities in Greenstead.

Investment will also be pumped into the creation of "digital working hubs" at an innovation centre set to be built on the site of the former bus depot in Queen Street.

Other schemes identified include the building of a digital skills hub at the Wilson Marriage Centre, in Magdalen Street, and the delivery of 5G infrastructure in the city.

It is hoped the arrival of 5G will be the catalyst for virtual reality tourism initiatives.

The council hopes to improve walking and cycling links between the city centre, Greenstead and the University, alongside the launch of a scheme allowing some residents over the age of 12 to apply for a free bicycle.

The projects were identified following a public consultation by We Are Colchester, a partnership between Colchester Council, Essex County Council, businesses and voluntary organisations.

David King, leader of Colchester Council, said: “The money will make a huge impact in improving the future of our soon-to-be city.

“The projects can now progress in earnest, directly addressing priorities identified by the Colchester community.

"We are keen to continue engagement with residents and businesses, so they remain at the heart of these exciting developments.”

Simon Blaxill, chair of We are Colchester board, said: “This significant investment will bolster local businesses, creating and sustaining jobs for the future.

"I am looking forward to working with the community and local stakeholders to bring forward these exciting projects.”