NEW pictures have emerged showing the Northern Gateway leisure complex starting to taking shape.

Gazette: Expensive – the overall cost of the retail park is about £65 millionExpensive – the overall cost of the retail park is about £65 million (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

The project is three months away from completion, with minutes from a recent Colchester Council sub-licensing committee suggesting the project will be finished in November.

Gazette: Heavy duty – the major construction project is ongoingHeavy duty – the major construction project is ongoing (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Plans for the site go back almost a decade, with a tender process starting as far back as 2015 before full planning permission for the £65 million project was granted in spring the following year.

Gazette: New details – information about bowling lanes and gambling machines has been released in council papersNew details – information about bowling lanes and gambling machines has been released in council papers (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

With a legal challenge from the Tollgate Partnership dismissed in 2018, the project – which is being built on an area of land previously known as Cuckoo Farm West – went full-steam ahead.

HG Construction is in place as the building contractors.

Gazette: Ongoing – plans for the Northern Gateway site were submitted back in 2016Ongoing – plans for the Northern Gateway site were submitted back in 2016 (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Fast-food restaurant chain Wendy’s has already opened on the site, stealing a march on its competitors who appear to be some way off from being ready to welcome customers.

Cineworld, Travelodge, Greggs, Hollywood Bowl, Jump Street, and Puttstars are all preparing for the opening later this year.

Gazette: Roadside – the Northern Gateway is easily accessible from the A12Roadside – the Northern Gateway is easily accessible from the A12 (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

However, pictures of the development at the ten-acre site show there is still much work to be done on the project, which is being led by Turnstone Estates.

Gazette: Striking – the new Travelodge will be one of the most visible buildings on the siteStriking – the new Travelodge will be one of the most visible buildings on the site (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Canada Life is forward funding the scheme, with Colchester Council managing future leisure provision with outright ownership after the Northern Gateway has been open for 35 years.

Gazette: Work to do – the Northern Gateway is expected to open in three months' timeWork to do – the Northern Gateway is expected to open in three months' time (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Colchester Council leader David King has previously said he has been encouraged by the progress, adding the investment in the project will “provide new jobs, places to enjoy, and much needed commercial income to help support council services into the long term.”

Marin Goss, councillor for Mile End, shared the council leader’s optimism and added that whilst boosting the economy the project would not damage the city centre.

He said: "It's going to bring leisure and jobs in the long term and the whole area will become a regional hub that will attract people from outside Colchester.

Gazette: Logistics – the construction of such a large site is a major logistical exerciseLogistics – the construction of such a large site is a major logistical exercise (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

"It won't hurt the city centre as the project isn't about retail – it's purely leisure.

"Alot of the businesses there we can't actually put into the city centre because of the sheer size.

"It's not Tollgate, and it's not Stanway – we won't have retailers moving out of the city centre and affecting what's going on there."