Colchester City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to the completion of the transformative Northern Gateway project, which includes Sports and Leisure facilities with next phase plans likely to include a health campus, employment opportunities and affordable housing.
In a pivotal decision made on Wednesday night, the council agreed to budgets that would allow £7.7m infrastructure works, helped by £5M government funding, to improve Junction 28 on the A12. This investment will ease peak time congestion pressures and enable the development of the balance of the Northern Gateway site.
Over the past few months, significant progress has been made at the Northern Gateway site, with both Greggs, Wendy's and the Fastned EV charging station opening for business within the Leisure Park.
To ensure the continued success of the project, the Council is now working on a new delivery strategy for the south side of the Northern Gateway development, set to be in place by the summer. This strategy will be tested against existing planning consent and will follow Local Plan guidelines already in place. A key new active travel route, known as "The Walk," has already been delivered, providing a high-quality walking, cycling, and wheeling option through the south site. There is significant interest in the site from various parties in the healthcare sector, underlining the importance of the development's focus on health and wellbeing.
Councillor David King, Leader of Colchester Council, said: “The approval of budgets that enable our £7.7 million investment reaffirms our commitment to the wider Northern Gateway project and aligns with our ambitious vision of Colchester as a thriving city. Now we will test the market to secure the best social and financial value mix to secure a new healthcare campus, business and affordable housing to supplement our great sports and leisure parks. The Northern Gateway development reinforces that Colchester is a destination of regional significance, emblematic of Colchester's evolution into a dynamic city.”
Page last reviewed: 23 February 2024