The plans which will completely transform north of Colchester

Colchester Council is working on the proposals as part of its Northern Gateway development, which will see a sports park, leisure complex and 350 new homes built, as well as business and community facilities.

The area is already busy due to its proximity to the A12, but is likely to get a lot busier over the coming years.

The council says the changes to the roads will:

• Improve the capacity of J28 and the A12 slip roads 
• Introduce a dedicated left turn lane into Axial Way for southbound traffic 
• Facilitate a prioritising traffic light junction at Axial Way, United Way, Via Urbis Romanae 
• Provide an additional southbound lane off the junction of Axial Way, United Way, Via Urbis Romanae 
• Reduce “tailbacks” of traffic on/off the A12 and along Axial Way and the Via Urbis Romanae 
• Introduce signalisation and turn right lanes on Axial Way into the Northern Gateway south sites 

A raft of changes are also planned to promote sustainable travel in the area and boost walking and cycling.

These include:

• Creation of “The Walk”, a tree-lined boulevard at the heart of the site, provides a dedicated pedestrian and cycling route that runs from Mill Road to the junction of Axial Way and Via Urbis Romanae
• A Sustainable Transport Strategy, designed to facilitate a modal shift in transport choice, reducing car-use and maximising opportunities for alternative choices
• Northern Gateway Sports Park is linked by new and upgraded walking and cycling routes, including those across Junction 28 of the A12 and along Severalls Lane and Boxted Road
• The leisure complex will be linked with the public transport network.
• The new £100 million "Rapid Transit System" will also provide public transport links from the Northern Gateway to the town centre and east of Colchester

Read more:

• Plan revealed to redesign roads at North Gateway in Colchester
• First look at £29m Northern Gateway Sports Park in Colchester
• Everything we know about the Northern Gateway development in Colchester
• Colchester: Speed limit set to be reduced in Mill Road and across Highwoods

What have the council said?

Theresa Higgins, councillor responsible for commercial services, said: “The new roadworks will enable us to explore a number of schemes to improve walking and cycling in the area, putting active lifestyles and sustainable transport at the heart of our plans and ensuring we remain true to our Climate Emergency pledge.

“This is a hugely ambitious project that Colchester can be proud of and will bring numerous tangible benefits to the borough.

“It is exciting to see the progress now being made with the help of our commercial companies and partners, especially given the considerable challenges over the last year.

“Together we have forged an exceptional development which puts greener living and sustainability at the heart of economic growth.”

Business boss David King added: "Colchester is a great destination and place to work, live and visit.

"But it is essential we make sure that the infrastructure and facilities needed does come with development, to serve new and existing residents well across the borough.

“This ambitious master planning strikes that balance.

"It brings investment that will help wellbeing and physical activity as well as jobs, housing and renewable energy.

"It is also hugely important that we do all we can to boost our economy, to help us recover from today's pandemic-driven recession, help jobs, businesses and economic confidence in the future of Colchester.”

What is Northern Gateway?

The Northern Gateway project will see three huge new developments built just off the A12, near Colchester United's Jobserve Community Stadium.

These developments will bring sports and leisure facilities, as well as hundreds of new homes and healthcare provision, to Highwoods, making it set to become the fastest growing part of Colchester in the coming years.

They represent more than £100 million investment in the town.

Colchester Council embarked on the project more than five-years-ago but works are now well underway and the first section of Northern Gateway, the sports park, is set to open in April. 

The whole development will be powered by a first-of-its-kind low carbon network using energy from the ground to power and heat buildings, whilst new superfast broadband infrastructure is being installed to serve the developments as well as Highwoods itself.

The development is split into three sections.

Northern Gateway Leisure

Turnstone Estate's development at Northern Gateway, south of junction 28 of the A12, will feature a 12-screen cinema, set to be run by Cineworld, as well as seven restaurants and a 90-bed hotel, run by Travelodge.

It will also include two drive-thru eateries, a bowling alley, an indoor golf centre and a climbing facility as well as a landscaped piazza and a car park with 750 spaces and associated electric vehicle charging points.

Plans have been in development since 2015, with Brexit and changes to the leisure market causing delays, however the latest iteration of the proposals were approved by Colchester Council's planning committee late last year.

Northern Gateway Sports Park

Set to open in April, after being delayed by Covid-19, the £29 million sports park is set to be a regional centre of excellence.

The new facility will include a one-mile floodlit cycle track consisting of six loops.

The track, with provisions for cycling for people with disabilities and also for those with special needs, will provide leisurely cyclists a safe space to ride their bikes, whilst providing serious cyclists with a facility to challenge themselves and to improve.

The 76-acre site, located off the A12, also features a multi-use sports centre, indoor cricket, a fitness suite, exercise and cycle studios, a new state-of-the-art rugby facility that will become the new home of Colchester Rugby Football Club, two all-weather pitches, additional grass pitches and an archery range.

The development also includes improvements to the A12 at junction 28 and improves to pedestrian access.

Northern Gateway South

Work has begun on a £3.45million site which will eventually feature a private surgical hospital, care home and space for shops and businesses.

Ipswich-based firm Breheny have been awarded the contact to start work on the Colchester Northern Gateway-South project by Colchester Amphora Trading - Colchester Council’s commercial arm.

The masterplan for the 24-hectare site, which is south of junction 28 of the A12, will see the construction of up to 350 new homes with 30 per cent set to be affordable, a healthcare campus with 300 units and a private acute surgical hospital.

There will also be a 75-bed care home, and space for shops and restaurants. Business units are also being created.

Find out more about the plans for the Northern Gateway by visiting www.northerngatewaycolchester.co.uk.