£40m city plans for Colchester are 'fabulous time with huge amount happening'
The city is getting a huge overhaul
Last updated 4th Apr 2025
The UK’s first city is set to undergo major changes with “a huge amount going on” due to £40million of funding. Council bosses have insisted they are spearheading a “fabulous time” with “renewal and regeneration.”
Colchester, which was the first city in the UK, and is a hot spot for heritage, is getting a huge facelift and overhaul. More than £20million is being invested. The city is seeing new business spaces, new hotels, open spaces, investment in the city’s oldest buildings – the huge water tower, known as Jumbo, and Holy Trinity Church, as well as other projects.
Colchester Council is spearheading the multiple plans which are expected to be complete and benefitting the city, visitors, firms and residents by 2030 – the authority says. The Jumbo Water Tower, the Victorian structure and a Grade II Listed building, is set for a revamp with more than £9million, to create a tourist attraction. Plans include an events venue, visitor attraction and even a wedding venue.
The city’s oldest building, Holy Trinity Church, with its Saxon tower, will become a centre for St Helena’s Hospice, cafe and shop – with £2.8 million of funding. The graveyard will be transformed into an open space, with seating, plants and more.
Funding will also go into building a new community centre and multiuse building in Greenstead. Work is due to be underway soon and expected to take around a year to complete. It is set to cost just under £6million.
Other plans include the Colchester digital forum, with space for digital businesses in and around Queen Street. Colbea, Colchester Business Enterprise Agency, is behind the plans which also will see 5G internet and communications technology. The landmark Colchester Castle is set to get a new virtual reality attraction, allowing visitors to see for themselves the historical building through its history.
Cllr David King, Lib Dem leader of Colchester Council, said: “We have a huge amount going on in Colchester at the moment, inward investment, Government investment, people making decisions to come and shop, visit and stay in the city.
"All around us are examples of regeneration and renewal, from pavements to new buildings, places for business and people to shop, and visit. We are seeing investment in our places and people, this is really clearly a fabulous time for the city, a time for renewal and regeneration. It’s important because it’s about improving our opportunities for everyone, from the youngsters to older people and residents.
"We have to make the most of our times and Colchester is going through a series of changes, some we can’t control like shopping habits, but we can control the look and feel of the city. We can invest in our places, buildings, streets, parks, make the most of what we have and this is a time when Government and private investment is doing just that.”