We Are Colchester updates

Hello and welcome to the latest We Are Colchester Update. Now that our Town Investment Plan has been submitted, we are waiting, to see if our bid is successful. In the background, the team are working hard, planning for the next phase. We should hear early in the new year if we have been awarded the £25 million.

Just to remind you, here is a summary of the projects that were included in our bid:

• The creation of digital work hubs.
• Transforming facilities for young people.
• A digital skills hub at the Wilson Marriage Centre.
• Public realm improvements in the town centre.
• Restoration of Holy Trinity Church into a community hub.
• The first phase in restoring ‘Jumbo’.
• Transformation of community facilities in Greenstead.
• The accelerated introduction of 5G.
• Improved walking and cycling links across the town.

Once our bid has been approved, We Are Colchester will move into the next phase of the Town Deal. We will have up to 12 months to submit detailed business plans for each of the projects. Only after this, will the government give us the money. Certain projects might be ready for approval sooner than others, which might mean we receive some of the cash earlier. But... we'll be working on all the plans in a way which ensures enough time to deliver consistency of approach and quality across the board, including public engagement. We know that the projects will only succeed if they are developed with the people of Colchester.

If you have any questions about We Are Colchester, please get in touch with the team weare.colchester@colchester.gov.uk

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a happy, healthy Christmas! I’ll be back in touch early in the New Year, to tell you if our bid has been successful.

Simon Blaxill
Chair, We Are Colchester Board