From the start of July, Team Colchester is inviting you to come and explore the future of Colchester city centre for yourself.
From Tuesday 1 July through to Sunday 31 August, we’re opening a dedicated regeneration engagement space inside Colchester Library, giving residents and businesses a chance to see and ask questions about what’s coming next.
See what’s changing in your city centre
From St Botolph’s Circus to the restoration of Jumbo, the mini exhibition has been created to make it easier for you to understand the changes taking place across the city centre in the coming years.
Cllr David King, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection, said Team Colchester is committed to face-to-face engagement: “When regeneration projects are talked about, it can sometimes feel abstract or hard to picture. We can’t expect people to understand the changes happening at St Botolph’s Circus without seeing them. But once you see the crossings, the improved public realm, the better landscaping, the advantages and benefits are clear. That’s why we’ve brought everything together in one place – with clear visuals, technical drawings and easy-to-follow displays that show the scope of what’s planned and how it will affect the places you use every day.
“Whether you’re curious about the long-term improvements or want to understand what’s happening right now at Trinity Square, this space is designed to help make those plans feel real and accessible.”
Meet the team behind the work
You’ll be able to meet the people behind the projects every Tuesday between 10:00am and 4:00pm. Alongside our Essex Highways colleagues, we will be on hand in person, ready to answer your questions and talk through what’s happening in your area. As work begins to get underway and becomes more visible - particularly at key sites like St Botolph’s Circus – these face-to-face conversations will become even more important in helping you stay informed and involved.
Helping shape a permanent engagement space
This library is just one part of a wider approach to improving how we engage with you. Over the coming months, you’ll start to see more opportunities across the city centre to speak directly with officers, share your views and hear updates as projects progress, including upcoming work such as the bus station consultation. We want these conversations to be useful and genuinely shaped by your views - whether that’s in person, through our resident panel, during regular consultations or across our social media channels.
This is also a chance for us to learn. Through this temporary engagement, we can better understand what works for you and what doesn’t. Your feedback will help shape how we design a more permanent regeneration information hub, which we’re considering introducing by the end of the year. We’re already exploring options, and this summer’s trial will play an important role in making sure that future space genuinely adds value for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
Come and talk to us
If you want to see how Colchester is evolving, ask questions about changes in your area, or simply get a clearer picture of what’s coming next, we’d encourage you to drop in.
Come and see us at Colchester Library from 1 July to 31 August – and be part of the conversation about the future of your city centre.