COLCHESTER is set to undergo a huge regeneration over the next decade which will see key parts of the city centre transformed under council plans.

The council has secured nearly £40million in funding which will contribute to regenerating key sites, improving cycling infrastructure, bringing heritage assets back into public use, and more.

Some projects, totalling nearly £10million are underway or coming this year.

These include the new £6.25m Digital Working Hub, £1.6m revamp of St Nicholas Square, £600,000 on St Trinity Square and £1.3m for three youth service schemes.

Gazette: Project - representatives from across Colchester gathered to signify the beginning of construction of the digital hubProject - representatives from across Colchester gathered to signify the beginning of construction of the digital hub (Image: Colchester Council)

Other investments coming are the huge £11.8million enhancement of St Botolph's Circus roundabout, regenerating Jumbo and Balkerne Gate, plans for Vineyard and Brittania car parks, and more.

With the digital hub underway, the St Nicholas Square revamp begins next.

Gazette: The building home to Romano Lounge pictured in among what the square could look like under new plansThe building home to Romano Lounge pictured in among what the square could look like under new plans (Image: Colchester Council)

Work is planned to begin next month and finish in Autumn.

The first major investment in the eastern side will come through St Botolph’s Roundabout.

Gazette: St Botolph's Circus will be reimagined under new plansSt Botolph's Circus will be reimagined under new plans (Image: Google/Colchester Council)

Revised designs show a smaller roundabout, as well as the regeneration of the area, creating plazas and better crossing points, enhancing walking and cycling links and prioritising accessibility improvements.

Vineyard and Brittania car park plans, although a longer way off, form a huge part of eastern regeneration.

Gazette: Vineyard Street car parkVineyard Street car park (Image: Steve Brading)

Initial proposals for Vineyard Street weren’t “commercially viable”, with more archaeological works to gather information on the site expected to take place this year.

Plans for Brittania include opening a walkway from Colchester Station into the car park area, which will become housing and businesses.

Gazette: Brittania car parkBrittania car park (Image: Steve Brading)

There are also plans to open a heritage trail past St Botolph's Priory and up to Firstsite.

Other plans include a new cycle route in East Hill and ambitions of making Eld Lane and St Isaacs Walk into ‘kerbless streets’.

Gazette: Excited - Essex County Council leader Kevin BentleyExcited - Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley (Image: Public)

Colchester City Council’s Local Plan Committee unanimously approved the adoption of the City Centre Masterplan this week.

Essex County Council leader Kevin Bentley said: “This is a golden age for Colchester, and it's been wonderful to involve the entire community in shaping the next 100 years for ourselves, our children, and generations to come.

“Colchester boasts a proud past, and now it has the green light to move on from the legacy we inherited from our Roman, Norman and Victorian ancestors, and embrace an even brighter future.”