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Colchester’s planning policies show North Colchester as an area of major growth over the next decade. This expansion follows the pattern of previous plans and will lead to the completion of the third and final phase of the Colchester Northern Approaches infrastructure.
In July 2003, the Borough Council’s Planning Committee approved a suite of six planning applications for the third phase of the Northern Approaches Road and associated residential and commercial developments. These applications related to Cuckoo Farm and Severalls Hospital. In total they represent a package of around £25m of new infrastructure, including a new junction on the A12, a two-lane segregated bus way for a Park and Ride service into the town centre, 1,500 new residential units, an employment zone expected to create 3,500 new jobs, the relocation of roadside services currently on the north side of the A12 and a new 10,000 seater Community Stadium.
Work on the first phase of this infrastructure package and associated development is already under way at the eastern end of Cuckoo Farm, with the development of a new factory and section of link road for local manufacturing company, Flakt Woods. This development is due for completion by Christmas 2005.
With the transfer of a significant element of the former Severalls Hospital site to English Partnerships on 6 April 2005, a new momentum has been added to the North Colchester regeneration. In the meantime, the Borough Council has been progressing plans to release further employment land at Cuckoo Farm and is currently exploring the possibility of building the Community Stadium in advance of the opening of the new A12 junction.
Taken overall, these proposals represent the opportunity to create a major new sustainable community in North Colchester and one that will preserve major swathes of existing woodland parkland and buildings on the unique Severalls Hospital site. Despite the huge scale and complexity of the project, it is clear that progress on delivery is now being made with the regeneration being brought forward in a phased manner.
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