A £2.5MILLION plan has been unveiled to turn Colchester’s former police station into a base for fledgling creative businesses.

Architects firm Ash Sakula is drawing up plans to turn the upper floors of the St Botolph’s Street building into a Creative Business Centre.

The offices will be for firms involved in the arts, antiques, fashion, film, advertising, publishing, television or other creative industries.

Concept designs are still being drawn up, but it is estimated Colchester Council will need to find £2.5million to get the project up and running.

The authority bought the building using funds from the Haven Gateway Partnership and East of England Development Agency, along with receipts from the sale of Roman House and St James House.

A European Union grant of £225,000 is being used to draw up the plans and get the building started.

Tim Young, councillor responsible for culture, was confident about raising the rest of the funding needed for the project.

He said: “We’re trying to move the scheme on and it certainly looks quite exciting.

“We should hopefully see progress in the next few months.”

Individuals and also small businesses getting into the industry can rent desk space and get support at nearby 15 Queen Street, from £10 a day.

The Creative Business Centre would be for small businesses that should no longer be in their infancy, but still growing and developing.

It would have 20,000 sq ft of lettable space, including 20 units for office and desk space.

The ground floor, currently occupied by TP’s sports bar, would still be used as a restaurant or cafe.

More than 5,600 people are involved in the creative sector in Colchester.