Fresh plans submitted for Tollgate Village in Stanway

Tollgate Partnership Limited has submitted a new application to Colchester Council for its Tollgate Village development in Stanway.

The plans contain some amendments to the long-awaited scheme, including changes to the access arrangements for the huge new 30,812 sq m retail park.

READ MORE: Detailed plans for the site were first approved in October

The home of Hughes Electrical, located in the existing Tollgate Retail Park, will no longer be demolished to make way for a new service access to the site.

Instead, if permission is given, a new one will be created from London Road, as well as a separate service access to the leisure development, located off Tollgate West.

A report states: “None of these proposed changes fundamentally alter the scale or nature of the development which has already been approved.

“The changes are sought to improve the operational efficiencies of the scheme and offer a better design solution.”

How Tollgate Village could look from above

Plans show floorspace at the development will be made up primarily of shops, totalling 22,000 sq m, as well as 2,100 sq m of additional general retail space, across Tollgate Retail Park and the old Sainsbury’s site.

The cinema is set to offer 1,300 seats across up to eight screens from a 3,450 sq m unit located on the opposite side of Tollgate West. There will be 3,240 sq m of other leisure floorspace nearby set to be up to nine restaurants.

The development will feature a large plaza area at the front of the leisure site as well as another similar square near the retail development.

A promenade walking route featuring plants and benches will run along the front of the retail park and the entire development will be surrounded by a landscape buffer.

A report states: “Planting in these areas will include ornamental species to create seasonal interest and provide a softer experience than other areas of the site.

“This aims to provide break points within the shopping environment.”

The leisure site has been designed around the plaza which features large concrete steps and pod units.

The leisure section of the development

The documents state this area could feature light sculptures or light features, which may be interactive.

The report states: “To encourage this user interaction, technologies could be used to allow visitors, through the use of various inputs, to manipulate and interact with the lighting.

“Enhancing it from a purely visual interaction to a physical one, provoking a sense of connection and individuality. “

A total of 1,523 parking spaces are proposed, of which 241 are located within a multi-storey car park.

Work could begin this year if the amendments are approved by Colchester Council.