Colchester Moxy Hotel plans revised to add another floor

Elysium Group, alongside its brand partner Marriott, are looking to build a new Moxy Hotel in a vacant property at the top of North Hill.

The large commercial building was previously home to the Post Office until its closure in 2018.

Closed - the former post office site on North Hill (Image: Google)

Plans show the rear of the terraced building will be demolished to provide capacity but the locally-listed front would be retained.

The site between Yates and Centurion would then be transformed into a 73-room hotel, with a restaurant on the ground level.

Plans - the Moxy Hotel would be within a walking distance of the Jumbo Water Tower (Image: Newsquest)

Luxury - a mock up image of the former plans for the Moxy Hotel from the rear of the building (Image: Newsquest)

The plans have since been altered after meetings with the Essex Quality Review Panel.

The revised layout has opened the opportunity to include some further oversized rooms into the proposal which can be "easily adapted into family and or wheelchair accessible rooms". 

Previously, plans detailed a 73-bedroom hotel on three upper floors and a ground floor reception area.

Now, in addition to a restaurant and reception facilities at ground floor level, there will now be 72 rooms split across four floors.

Change - the former and revised plans for the hotel, as viewed from the rear next to Jumbo (Image: b3 architects)

Planning bosses say revised plans “fit harmoniously within the setting and respond positively to its context and the neighbouring Listed Buildings”.

The updated plans still contain proposals for a renewed entrance along Head Street and Balkerne Square and a new pedestrian link connecting North Hill and Balkerne Gardens.

However, the fresh plans have caused some concern, particularly over the height of the hotel.

One objector said the proposed height is “unacceptable”.

“All new builds must be limited to no higher than the immediate nearby existing buildings”, they added.

“Such a height would block the current view, looking east from Balkerne Gate, of the Victoria Tower of the Grade I Listed Town Hall.

The Colchester Civic Society also commented on the revised plans.

They said: “We had earlier concerns with the original proposed elevations but the now increased height of the western elevation with a new five floors is far from acceptable.

“Our major concern is the obscuring of the view toward our High Street jewel the Town Hall from the approach to Jumbo.”

Colchester Council will rule on the plans.