Tollgate Village plans formally submitted - EADT

A planning application has been submitted for a major extension to an out-of-town shopping centre in Colchester.

The Tollgate Partnership Ltd hopes to create Tollgate Village on the former Sainsbury’s site and on land opposite Curry’s/PC World at the existing centre.

Shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities including a cinema are among the proposed elements of the 20 acre development site.

An outline planning application has now been submitted to Colchester Borough Council following what the partnership describes as a positive public consultation.

In total of the 467 people who completed a feedback form during the company’s consultation 86% supported the development, with just 2.5% unsupportive and the rest undecided.

Jayne Gee, one of the Tollgate Partnership directors, said: “The 569 people who attended our two-day exhibition, the many others who completed our online form, local councillors and Colchester Borough Council officers have all helped to shape our proposals for Tollgate Village and we are very grateful to them.”

Daniel Watts, a fellow director, added that consultation also included Stanway Parish Council, Essex County Council and the Highways Agency.

The Tollgate Partnership believe if given the go-ahead the development could create up to 1,000 jobs for the area, including up to 480 construction jobs, and would bring a £13.7million boost to the local economy.

The partnership hopes work could begin from next year if planners give the proposals the green light, with the site completed by 2018.

The site would be split into three zones.

Zone one, on the former Sainsbury’s land, would have retailers and a 1,300 seat cinema as well as a five-level multi-storey car park with a total of 1,200 parking spaces.

Zones two and three would see existing stores enhanced, along with new restaurant and retail space and an indoor adventure centre, plus 280 additional surface car parking spaces.

Full feedback from the public consultation will later be posted on the Tollgate Village website.

Colchester Borough Council aims to make a decision on the proposals by May 28. Comments can be made on the council’s website.

Link to EADT Article

Article by : Will Lodge