Plans for the future of a key gateway to Colchester have been unveiled. The £11.8 million proposals impact St Botolph's Circus.
The new vision follows a consultation involving over 2,000 local people. We worked with Colchester City Council to engage with residents on the Colchester City Centre Masterplan. Of the 2,000 respondents, over 530 provided their views on the St Botolph's development.
Following feedback from residents, significant adjustments to the designs have been made. They includes a smaller roundabout design which will better support traffic flow. They still offer the opportunity to regenerate the area, improve walking and cycling links and add accessibility improvements.
Councillor David King, Leader of Colchester City Council, said:
Both Councils, as Team Colchester, are doing all we can to consult and listen, to welcome support and challenge from any, like us, who care deeply about their city. We thank the thousands of constituents who have shared their views. We are pleased to adapt our St Botolph’s Circus plans in response to them. It is exciting that we can work in such a collaborative way, to shape the future of our city together.
Councillor Kevin Bentley, Leader of Essex County Council, said:
As Team Colchester, it brings me immense joy to witness the remarkable collaboration that has gone into this extraordinary project. The redevelopment of St Botolph's Circus will revolutionise connectivity for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, allowing them to seamlessly coexist. By reclaiming road space, people can now relax and enjoy exciting new businesses and pop-up retail experiences. This remarkable scheme meets the needs of our community today and for the decades to come.
The St Botolph's Circus redevelopment marks the beginning of wider regeneration plans. This includes laying the foundations for a future bus interchange and a new heritage walking route from St Botolph's Circus, through St Botolph's Priory, to Colchester Castle. This redevelopment will make better use of the existing bus and train station links as part of the wider city centre regeneration.
Funding for these projects includes £19.6 million from Levelling Up, £2.5 million from Section 106, and £19.2 million from the Town Deal. Together, the funding will contribute to regenerating Saint Nicholas Square, Balkerne Gate, improving cycling infrastructure, creating a new digital hub on the site of the old bus station, bringing heritage assets back into public use, and much more for Colchester's city centre.
Find out more about the Colchester Masterplan.