Learn about the Levelling Up Fund
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Plans for Colchester
Colchester City Council has been awarded £19.66m from the Government to support improvements to Colchester’s city centre.
The bid for the funding was submitted in partnership with Essex County Council and demonstrates the authorities’ commitment to tackling inequality and boosting the local economy.
The money will be spent on several high-profile projects that focus on improving the feel of the city centre, increasing footfall by creating a more attractive environment for visitors, reducing antisocial behaviour and tackling poor air quality and traffic congestion.
The scheme includes plans to improve walking and cycling routes in the city centre by including a new road layout and removing underpasses at St Botolph’s roundabout. The new highway scheme will also ensure the Roman Circus is better connected as well as better signposted.
The scheme will also create a heritage walking route that will provide an attractive, safe, coherent path from St Botolph’s Priory, past Firstsite and to Colchester Castle and Castle Park, with clear wayfinding and interpretation. Throughout this walking route, accessibility including for people with limited mobility will be greatly improved.
While celebrating more of the heritage in the area (with long-standing repairs to the Roman wall both at Priory Street and also at Vineyard street included), plans are also in place to create a convenient new hub for storing and hiring bikes, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-scooters.
The money will also enable the existing Town Deal ‘kerbless street’ route from Head Street to Queen Street to be completed, and, in partnership with Colchester’s BID, to support businesses to improve shop fronts in the St Botolph’s area (for further details of the Shop Front Grant scheme, or to apply, visit Shop Front Improvement Grants.).
The bid for the funding was submitted in partnership with Essex County Council and demonstrates the authorities’ commitment to tackling inequality and boosting the local economy.
The money will be spent on several high-profile projects that focus on improving the feel of the city centre, increasing footfall by creating a more attractive environment for visitors, reducing antisocial behaviour and tackling poor air quality and traffic congestion.
The scheme includes plans to improve walking and cycling routes in the city centre by including a new road layout and removing underpasses at St Botolph’s roundabout. The new highway scheme will also ensure the Roman Circus is better connected as well as better signposted.
The scheme will also create a heritage walking route that will provide an attractive, safe, coherent path from St Botolph’s Priory, past Firstsite and to Colchester Castle and Castle Park, with clear wayfinding and interpretation. Throughout this walking route, accessibility including for people with limited mobility will be greatly improved.
While celebrating more of the heritage in the area (with long-standing repairs to the Roman wall both at Priory Street and also at Vineyard street included), plans are also in place to create a convenient new hub for storing and hiring bikes, e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-scooters.
The money will also enable the existing Town Deal ‘kerbless street’ route from Head Street to Queen Street to be completed, and, in partnership with Colchester’s BID, to support businesses to improve shop fronts in the St Botolph’s area (for further details of the Shop Front Grant scheme, or to apply, visit Shop Front Improvement Grants.).
Page last reviewed: 8 November 2023