regeneration Archives - Invest Colchester

Students unveil bold new vision for Colchester’s iconic ‘Jumbo’ Water Tower

Posted on June 4, 2026 | by Editor | Leave a Comment

Students from the University of Essex’s Edge Hotel School have come up with ideas for the future of Colchester’s iconic Jumbo Water Tower, delivering bold new suggestions that impressed project leaders.

The Victorian water tower, affectionately known as ‘Jumbo’ locally, is currently undergoing a multi-million refurbishment, led by The Balkerne Tower Trust.

The consultancy project challenged students to develop creative proposals for the historic structure, building on earlier calls for fresh ideas to transform the much-loved site. Rising to the task, the group went beyond the original brief, proposing that Jumbo should become a destination restaurant, The Balkerne Bistro, rather than a traditional events venue.

Image credit: Edge Hotel School, University of Essex, Wivenhoe House Hotel

Government Confirms Colchester’s £18.2m Town Deal Funding

Posted on August 12, 2022 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Local partnership ‘We are Colchester’ has confirmed that its bid to deliver an ambitious set of projects as part of the Town Deal Fund has been fully supported by the government.

Colchester has been awarded the full £18.2m from the Government’s Town Deal fund to invest in projects that will directly benefit residents across the borough.

Another £1m in Town Deal funding for ‘accelerated’ schemes at Balkerne Gate and St Nicholas Square was awarded in September 2020.

The first instalment of £5.8m, for 2022/23, will be directed towards a range of projects developed by engaging residents to identify their priorities. Over 1000 people submitted their views last summer and these were used to refine several projects located across the town.

The list of We Are Colchester projects submitted to the government in June 2021 now set to benefit from the new funding includes:

Creation of digital working hubs and grow-on space in the AIXR Centre for Immersive Innovation to be built on the site of the former bus depot in Queen Street
Transforming facilities for young people
A digital skills hub at the Wilson Marriage Centre (Magdalene Street)
Public realm improvements in the town centre, including new public space fronting the housing development at the former Essex County Hospital
Restoration of Holy Trinity Church (Lion Walk) and the first phase in restoring ‘Jumbo’
Transformation of community facilities in Greenstead
The accelerated introduction of 5G infrastructure to enable the delivery of VR tourism initiatives and other options
Improved walking and cycling links between the Town Centre, Greenstead and the University, as well as the launch of Essex Pedal Power allowing eligible residents over the age of 12 to apply for a new FREE quality bicycle

Colchester Borough Council bids for £20m from Government’s Levelling Up Fund

Posted on August 11, 2022 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

A £20m funding bid to support improvements to Colchester’s city centre will be submitted to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The bid, led by Colchester Borough Council, in partnership with Essex County Council, supports both authorities’ pledge to tackle inequality and boost the local economy.

The focus will be on several high-profile projects to improve the feel of the city centre, attract more visitors and increase footfall by redeveloping the St Botolph’s area, reduce antisocial behaviour, and tackle poor air quality and traffic congestion.

A successful bid will kick-start a series of works to improve public safety and making it easier to walk or cycle into the centre, including a new road layout and removing underpasses. It would also create a new public realm space that helps build a traffic-free route from St Botolph’s Priory to Colchester Castle and Castle Park, while celebrating more of the heritage in the area, and providing a convenient new hub for storing and hiring bikes, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-scooters.

The bid also proposes to complete the existing Town Deal kerbless route from Head Street to Queen Street, and to support businesses to improve shop fronts in the St Botolph’s area.

(image credit: Essex Highways)

Colchester awarded £18.2m from Government Town Deal Fund

Posted on March 4, 2021 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Ambitious and dynamic plans to help deliver long-term economic growth for Colchester are a step closer, following the award of £18.2m from the Government’s Town Deal Fund.

This significant investment was confirmed as part of the Chancellor’s budget statement on Wednesday 3 March 2021. This means a variety of projects, which will have wide-reaching benefits to residents across the borough, can now be progressed.

Image credit: St Nicholas Square regeneration, HAT Projects

Mercury Theatre and Colchester Arts Centre Grant Awards

Posted on February 4, 2021 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Two icons of Colchester’s cultural scene have been successful in being awarded funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

The Mercury Theatre has been awarded £100,598 and the Colchester Arts Centre, £100,000.

The money will support The Mercury’s reopening plans and The Arts Centre will invest in a reopening programme that will support artists and the local community alike.

Image credit: Colchester Arts Centre

Colchester’s £25m Town Deal Bid Submitted to Government

Posted on December 4, 2020 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

A multi-million-pound bid by the ‘We Are Colchester’ group has been submitted to the Government to fund several projects around the town .

At the start of 2020, Colchester was chosen as one of 101 towns across the country that could apply for up to £25 million from the Government’s Town Deal Fund.

Image: HAT Projects

Colchester Awarded £1m for Public Realm Schemes

Posted on October 12, 2020 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Colchester is set to receive £1 million to revamp two gateways to Colchester town centre, following an announcement by the Government.

The money, which has been awarded to We Are Colchester, which is leading on Colchester’s £25m Town Deal bid, will be spent on the first phases of two public realm schemes, at St Nicholas Square and Balkerne Gate, with bids for further funding to follow.

Image credit: HAT Projects

New ‘We Are Colchester’ Board Set Up to Unlock Town’s Economic Potential

Posted on February 10, 2020 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

The ‘We Are Colchester’ partnership launched in late January with its primary task to develop an investment plan for up to £25m from the Government’s Town Deal fund.

Simon Blaxill, Chair of the “Our Colchester” Business Improvement District (BID) and managing director of local company Kent Blaxill, has been appointed as the board’s chair.

We Are Colchester, a dynamic partnership comprising Colchester Borough Council, Essex County Council, local businesses and voluntary organisations, has been established to develop a long-term vision for unlocking more jobs and prosperity for Colchester.

The board will be supported by a new advisory group and enlist a range of stakeholders who will be directly engaged in the programme. Over the next few months, the partnership will develop an investment plan for up to £25 million from the Government’s Town Deal – following last year’s announcement that Colchester was one of 100 places able to bid for the money.

Image: Colchester Borough Council

Construction Completes on Second Amphora Place Office Development in Colchester

Posted on March 27, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Dated 21 March 2019. Colchester Borough Council’s commercial project management arm, Colchester Amphora Trading Ltd, has successfully completed work on the 10,041sq ft second Amphora Place office development located off Sheepen Road in the town.

Revitalised Plans Confirmed for Jacks in Colchester Town Centre

Posted on January 9, 2019 | by web@colchester.gov.uk

Colchester Borough Council has appointed the contractor to carry out repair works to Jacks that will enable local business Three Wise Monkeys to move in and operate their pint-sized micro-brewery in the town centre.