July 2019 - Invest Colchester

Colchester Showcased in National Report on Council House Building

Posted on July 26, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

A major report, which spotlights Colchester Borough Council’s ambitions to build more council houses, was launched at the Local Government Association’s annual conference in July.

The report by the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) and the District Councils Network (DCN), titled Districts building for the future: The impact of the removal of the HRA borrowing cap, surveyed 50 Councils nationwide. It concludes that the 2018 lifting of a Government debt cap on local council borrowing to fund housebuilding has already led to two-thirds of councils seizing the opportunity to build more social housing in the near future.

How £1m Loan Helped Colchester’s Cadman Cranes to increase capacity and take on new contracts

Posted on July 23, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

A Colchester crane hire company is set to compete harder after using a £1.1m loan to expand its fleet by three cranes to 25 and move to a new 30,000sq ft base.

Image credit: Cadman Cranes

Firstsite Visual Art Gallery Shortlisted for Prestigious Freelands Award

Posted on July 22, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Firstsite is one of six arts organisastions across the UK to have been shortlisted for the prestigious Freelands Award which is worth £100,000.

Image credit: Colchester Borough Council

Innovative Low Carbon Energy System Developing at Colchester’s Northern Gateway

Posted on July 19, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Colchester Borough Council and Colchester Amphora Energy Ltd (wholly owned by the council), are planning to install a district heat system in the proposed Northern Gateway housing and office development. This will significantly reduce carbon emissions caused by heating homes and offices and will generate a source of hot water to replace boilers in the new homes being built.

This flagship project, which in 2017 was one of only nine in the UK to gain funding from the Department for Business, Enterprise & Industrial Strategy, will significantly reduce carbon emissions caused by heating buildings. As the technology has not been used at such a large scale before in the UK, the project is of national interest – although it has been widely used in Europe with great success.

Image credit: Colchester Borough Council

New £12m Innovation Centre Opened by Chancellor John Bercow at University of Essex

Posted on July 15, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

A new home for early stage and start-up technology companies and student entrepreneurs has been officially opened by The Rt Hon John Bercow MP at the University of Essex’s Knowledge Gateway research and technology park. The Innovation Centre is being operated by the UK’s leading innovation centre operator, Oxford Innovation, and will eventually host more than 50 businesses. It is also the base for Studio X, the university’s digital creative collaborative studio and student start-up programme.

Image credit: University of Essex, David Higgleton