AN architect says the future of his plans to bring Colchester’s Roman Circus back to life rests on whether more than 200 homes are built. 

Colchester Council will debate the ABRO (Army Base Repair Organisation) housing site on Thursday evening, which is situated to the north of the historic Roman Circus ruins and would see 203 homes built.

Architect Francis Terry revealed a grand plan earlier this month to authentically reconstruct the five-feet-high arches of the Roman Circus to celebrate the city’s Roman history.

Colchester’s Roman Circus is more than 2,000 years old, and had an estimated seating capacity of 8,000 people.

Plan - Francis Terry's rendering of the proposed rebuilding of the starting gates at the Roman Circus Plan - Francis Terry's rendering of the proposed rebuilding of the starting gates at the Roman Circus (Image: Francis Terry & Associates) Part of his vision is to delineate the great space of the circus with housing, following the oval shape of the circus and leaving a large green in the centre.

The ABRO housing site includes a significant portion of this space, and it has previously seen concerns about traffic.

It was vacated in 2019 and has since stood empty, with the land sold by the Ministry of Defence for £8.85 million in 2022.

The council will debate the site at a meeting Thursday night, where Mr Terry has applied to speak.

He said: “The site of the ABRO development is on an incredibly important location for the future of Colchester.

“It sits between the city centre and the Roman Circus and thereby should become the link between the city and this important heritage asset.

“My hope is in time that people will start to value the circus, and it will be linked back into the town by walkways.”

Exciting - Mr Terry's vison has been met with widespread approval and keen interest Exciting - Mr Terry's vison has been met with widespread approval and keen interest (Image: Francis Terry & Associates) Mr Terry’s plan has already been met with widespread excitement.

Colchester Civic Society said: “This plan came with drama but also a visualisation that gave the remains the imaginative setting that would grab the attention of al visitors and make a visit a thing of considerable memory.

“It is a rare occasion that people are so moved by an architectural presentation for our city and happy are those who were there.

“We all realise that this is precisely the kind of masterplan thinking that Colchester is desperate for to inspire our residents and Councillors for a future that we could all be proud of.”

Colchester Council will rule on the housing plans tonight (Wednesday).