PLANS for hundreds of new homes, healthcare facilities and business premises to be built at a former sports ground have been approved.
Colchester Council’s proposed development at the old Colchester Rugby Club site, off Mill Road, has been given outline planning permission.
The scheme will see 350 new homes - 105 of which will be social housing, a healthcare campus with 300 homes for elderly residents, a 20-bed private acute surgical hospital and a new medical centre offering GP services built on site.
There will also be a 75-bed care home created, along with 45,100sqm of office and commercial space.
Food and retail outlets are also proposed, along with a community centre, pedestrian boulevard and large park.
The development is part of the wider Northern Gateway development which has seen a £29million state-of-the-art sports park open.
A £50million leisure complex, featuring a cinema, climbing centre and restaurants, is also set to be built near Colchester United’s stadium.
Paul Dundas, leader of Colchester Council, said: “This is a huge step forward for this ambitious project that will help transform this area of the Northern Gateway and bring jobs, affordable housing and facilities benefitting the whole community.
“This is a significant investment into our borough, which is extremely important to boost economic recovery following the impact of Covid-19.
“I look forward to this project continuing to take shape for the benefit of our residents and Colchester’s future.”
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The site will be heated and powered by a low carbon district heat network, which uses renewable energy from underground sources.
A new ultra-fast broadband network is to be installed which will benefit the new homes and businesses as well as the wider Highwoods area.
The development will be managed by Colchester Amphora Trading Ltd, Colchester Amphora Homes Ltd and Colchester Amphora Energy Ltd, the council’s wholly owned commercial companies.
Colchester Council’s planning committee backed the plans at a meeting on Thursday, subject to an agreement to secure funding for the new infrastructure.
About £9million is being requested for things like schools, roads and NHS facilities as well as the new community centre.
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will have to ratify the decision as it is part of the wider Northern Gateway scheme.
For more information about the Northern Gateway, visit https://northern
gatewaycolchester.co.uk.
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