PLANS to open a climbing centre at a new leisure park in Colchester were shelved several months ago, the Gazette can exclusively reveal.

Jump Street had been among the businesses which had signed up to move into units at the under construction Northern Gateway Leisure Park.

However, the Gazette now understands plans for the proposed new Jump Street were in fact scrapped in the late summer or early autumn last year and that the unit remains on the market.

Despite this, when checked by the Gazette on Tuesday, both the Colchester Council and Northern Gateway Leisure Park websites said Jump Street was still part of the plans.

Gazette: Venue - Jump Street in ColchesterVenue - Jump Street in Colchester

The news comes after Jump Street’s existing site in Mason Road underwent a rebrand after being sold to trampoline park chain AirHop.

But AirHop Group, which has added new attractions to its new home in Mason Road since acquiring the site in July 2022, has no active interests or agreements with Colchester Council or the developers behind the £65million leisure park to take on a unit at the site.

Turnstone Estates, the developer behind the project, was invited to comment but had not responded at the time of publication.

Gazette: Out of date - Jump Street is still listed on the Colchester Council websiteOut of date - Jump Street is still listed on the Colchester Council website (Image: Public)Gazette: Incorrect - The Northern Gateway Leisure Park website claims Jump Street is opening a site at the complexIncorrect - The Northern Gateway Leisure Park website claims Jump Street is opening a site at the complex (Image: Public)
What is opening at the Northern Gateway in Colchester?

Work on the multi-million pound scheme, which is close to the Colchester United football stadium near junction 28 of the A12, started in early 2022.

On completion, the huge leisure park will become home to a new 12-screen Cineworld multiplex with a Starbucks concession, a Hollywood Bowl bowling alley and Puttstars adventure golf centre, as well as several restaurants including El Guaca, Kaspa’s, Joyato Sushi & Grill, Slim Chickens, and Taste of Italy.

Gazette: New - customers outside Wendy's in Colchester on its opening dayNew - customers outside Wendy's in Colchester on its opening day (Image: Newsquest)

American fast-food chain Wendy’s was the first brand to open at the leisure park in July last year to a queue of hungry diners.

Its neighbour, the bakery giant Greggs, famed for its sausage rolls, opened a drive-thru unit in December.

A Travelodge hotel is also under construction and is expected to open early this year.

Construction of the budget hotel reached its highest point in November 2022 and signs bearing the hospitality chain’s logo appeared towards the end of last year.