Skip to content
Colchester buildings set for new redevelopment plans
Since the pandemic, several businesses have unfortunately had to close their doors.
However, as sad as that is, it gives the city the chance to embrace a new lease of life – not least now Colchester is set to welcome a host of new businesses.
Some developments aren’t entirely new, with various revamps and regenerations of existing buildings.
Here are five empty buildings in Colchester which are set to be brought back to life:
Debenhams
Debenhams has been vacant for about two years since May 2021.
However, the building could be transformed as plans have been submitted to Colchester Council to change the use of the site in Culver Street West from retail to leisure.
The ground floor would boast an arcade accessed at the Culver Square entrance and a Putt Putt Noodle mini golf course at the Culver Street West end.
Boom Battle Bar, which offers axe throwing, augmented reality darts and more alongside a licensed bar, will be accessed via Head Street.
The first level will see another arcade installed alongside an indoor trampoline park run by Flip Out.
The entire premises will be operated by Flip Out which is a leisure entertainment brand offering a “trampoline and adventure park experience”.
A go-karting course where drivers can zoom around the former department store could also be opened on the second floor.
Post Office
The old post office site at the top of North Hill in the city centre closed in 2018.
Elysium Group, alongside its brand partner Marriott, wants to launch a Moxy Hotel in the currently vacant property.
If the blueprints are signed off by planning bosses, the rear of the terraced building will be demolished to provide capacity but the locally-listed front would be retained.
The site would be transformed into a 73-room hotel, with a restaurant on the ground level.
Although the building is not listed, it is positioned within a conservation area, so developers are mindful of the hotel being in keeping with the character of the area.
It is understood they are working with the Colchester Archaeological Trust and exploring ways to incorporate mosaic elements and bronze plates into the building.
The decision date for the plans has been delayed, with Colchester Council previously saying the project architects are “reviewing the design to submit revised drawings which will then be considered before a recommendation and then decision is made”.
Stane Leisure Park’s final lot
One vacant unit remains at Stane Leisure Park in Stanway.
The leisure park, which concluded construction in 2018, already has The Princess Charlotte pub, two drive thru café and restaurants in Starbucks and KFC and three other buildings, one occupied by Nandos, one now occupied by Vets for Pets and Unit 3 which is vacant.
Plans have been submitted which could see global chain Burger King open another in the empty lot, adding to its existing takeaway in the city centre High Street.
Since completion, Unit 3 has never been occupied, and despite ongoing marketing by specialist agents Savills and Edgerley Simpson Howe, no interest for the unit has been received.
For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
The applicant now has interest from Burger King to use the restaurant as a drive thru facility as well as a restaurant use.
The redevelopment would provide a drive thru restaurant and café unit, with the option to dine in as well.
The plans will be ruled on by Colchester Council.
Priory Walk
Flats, a gym and shops are set to be built in Colchester’s so-called Cultural Quarter after long-running plans were finally approved by council bosses in February.
A mixed-use development of 31 new self-contained homes spread across three storeys will be built in Priory Walk and Queen Street.
New shops and a gym will also be constructed as part of the plans.
Buildings impacted by the development include 17 to 26 Priory Walk and 20 to 28 Queen Street, including the demolition of one unoccupied facility.
To make way for the gym, the subdivisions between the former Superdrug and the Peacocks premises will be removed to form a larger, single space.
Developer Clarehouse Developments Ltd initially sought permission to build 37 flats at the site.
However, this was scaled back to 31 after the application attracted a tidal wave of objections.
Beehive Pub
Colchester Islamic Community Centre’s plan to convert the former Beehive Pub, in Bromley Road, into a community centre was approved back in 2019.
The centre will be used for coffee mornings, classes, clubs and prayers.
The council has given the green light for partial demolition of the building, as well as extensions to the front, side and rear.
The plans also detail the demolition of existing outbuildings and construction of additional car parking and boundary treatments.
Plans have also gone in to discharge conditions relating to the planning permission, which typically means work is due to start shortly.
