LONG-AWAITED plans for a multi-million pound leisure park in Stanway have been given the green light.

Tollgate Partnership has been given permission to start work on its Tollgate Village 2.0 development.

The huge leisure park will sit on the site of the former Sainsbury’s supermarket, off Tollgate West, and on an empty parcel of land next to the Tollgate Centre retail park.

It could become home to outlets including a cinema, bowling alley, indoor golf centre, arcades, nightclub, live music venue, casino, and bingo hall, as well as a range of bars, drive-thru restaurants, and takeaways.

Gazette: Vision - what part of the leisure park could look likeVision - what part of the leisure park could look like (Image: Corstorphine + Wright)

Jayne Gee and Daniel Watts, directors of Tollgate Partnership, said they were “delighted” the project had been given the nod and that work could start next year.

“The scheme will create a thriving gateway hub for Colchester, where people of all ages can work, shop, meet and relax,” they said.

They claim the new leisure park will inject millions of pounds into the city’s economy, creating about 480 construction jobs, plus almost 900 jobs when the project is completed.

The directors added: “Approximately £26million will be generated for the local economy and improved facilities will encourage people to spend money locally, rather than travel out of the borough.”

Gazette: Site - the leisure park will sit in place of a former Sainsbury's storeSite - the leisure park will sit in place of a former Sainsbury's store (Image: Nigel Brown)

Colchester Council’s planning committee threw out plans for the massive development in 2016, but the decision was appealed and overturned.

A fresh bid was launched in 2021, however, as bosses behind the project changed their vision for the site after the coronavirus pandemic, with the latest bid delivering less retail and leisure space but more units for small businesses.

Stanway councillor Lesley Scott-Boutell said a lot of thought had gone into the latest planning application and was pleased to see it include smaller units suitable for people wanting to start their own business and measures to improve traffic.

“This is actually a better plan for local people because there’s more opportunities,” she said.

It was previously estimated the scheme will cost about £70million to complete.

The Sainsbury’s site has remained vacant since the retailer moved to its new home in nearby Western Approach in December 2010.