Colchester Britannia car park to close later this year

Colchester Council announced on Monday that Britannia car will shut in the coming months – though an exact date has not been announced – as part of a major redevelopment which will result in 120 homes being built on the site.

The car park has about 370 spaces, but the council has said there will be more than 3,600 spaces available across the city centre even after Britannia car park closes.

The car park will close temporarily for the St Botolph's Quarter redevelopment.

But the long term plan is to close the car park permanently and build homes on the site.

The council has said analysis from consultancy Parking Perspective found there were still more than 500 available spaces in the city centre even during peak times during November and December.

The authority also said the temporary closure of the 645-space capacity St John’s car park showed the city will be able to cope with the reduced number of spaces when Britannia car park shuts.

Council leader David King said the £1million of improvements to St John’s car park will encourage people to use the multi-storey car park, which reopened last Thursday.

He said: “With Britannia due to close for regeneration, it’s right that we share clear, independent information about where spaces tend to be available and how people can plan their visit.

“We also recognise that some people don’t love using multi storeys.

“That’s why we’re investing to make them safer, better lit, easier to navigate and more convenient - so that when you do choose them, the experience is as good as it should be.”

Clarification: The Gazette would like to clarify the car park will close temporarily later this year for the St Botolph's Quarter redevelopment.

The long term plan is to close the car park permanently at a later date and build homes on the site.

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