We’re sharing this update now because progress is being made –and residents deserve clarity about the steps ahead. Team Colchester is working together, across political boundaries, to deliver a new bus station for the city centre.
Who Team Colchester are:
Team Colchester is a cross‑party – one team – partnership led by:
- The Leaders of Colchester City Council, Cllr David King, and Essex County Council, Cllr Kevin Bentley
- The leaders of the Labour and Conservative groups in Colchester, Cllr Julie Young and Cllr Paul Dundas
- Cllr Lee Scott, Essex County Council Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration
- Additional councillor support from across the chamber
Political colours are left at the door. The group exists to drive major improvements for the city centre, address complex challenges together, and provide clear, united leadership on shared priorities such as transport, public safety, regeneration and the local economy.
In a joint statement, Team Colchester said: “As a group, we all agree on one thing: Colchester needs a bus station that is safer, more accessible and genuinely fit for the future. Residents have been clear for years that the current on‑street setup doesn’t work well enough - and we hear that. People deserve a transport hub they can rely on, one that supports everyday travel, meets future demand, reduces congestion, and offers a much better experience for passengers of all ages and abilities.
“That’s why we are working together, across political lines, to move this forward. We don’t have to agree on everything to agree on this: Colchester needs a proper, modern transport interchange, and it needs to be shaped by the community it serves.”
A new city‑centre bus station – what’s happening now
Team Colchester has commissioned detailed feasibility work on options for a new city centre bus station, known formally as a transport interchange. This follows strong feedback from residents, passengers, businesses and accessibility groups about the need for a safer, more reliable and more accessible solution.
The current on‑street arrangements on Osborne Street and Stanwell Street have long been recognised as challenging. That is why the group has taken steps to explore alternatives, gather technical evidence and begin engagement with those who use and operate the network every day.
Partner engagement already underway
Initial engagement with key groups has begun. Recent activity includes:
- Meetings with all major bus operators, focusing on operational needs, safe layouts and practical constraints
- Conversations with Colchester community/accessibility groups
- Early technical work assessing potential locations, operational requirements, design considerations, connectivity, planning issues and initial site investigations
This early feedback will help shape the shortlist of viable sites to take forward.
Public consultation in Summer 2026
It is the aim to shortlist feasible site options, to enable a public consultation this summer, where residents will be able to:
- See the options for potential locations
- Review visualisations and technical assessments
- Understand the advantages and trade‑offs of each site
- Share views, priorities and lived experience to help shape the final design
This will be a genuine opportunity for residents, passengers, local groups and businesses to influence the direction of the project from the outset.
Funding and next steps
Funding for a new transport interchange has not yet been secured. A project of this scale needs a clear, evidence‑based plan and strong public support before external investment can be sought.
The work happening now - technical analysis, partner engagement and public consultation – will put Colchester in the strongest possible position to:
- Agree a preferred site
- Make the case for funding
- Lobby government and other partners with a united, cross‑party voice
With a properly consulted-on plan shaped by the people who use the service, we can move forward together and argue for the investment Colchester needs.
Part of a bigger picture
This work complements the wider regeneration happening across the city centre - from public realm improvements to heritage-led restoration projects and major transport upgrades supported by both councils. A modern, accessible city‑centre transport interchange is a key part of making Colchester easier to navigate, safer, more welcoming and better connected.
What happens next
We’ll continue to share updates as milestones are reached, including:
- The shortlist of potential locations
- The launch of the public consultation in June
- How residents can take part and share their views
- The outcome of the consultation and next steps toward selecting a preferred site
Team Colchester’s joint statement continues: “We are committed to doing this transparently, collaboratively and with the long‑term interests of Colchester at heart. Whatever option emerges, it must make the city safer, more welcoming, and easier to get around. That is the goal we share – and it’s one we will keep working towards together.”
Team Colchester remains committed to finding a solution that improves safety, accessibility, and reliability for passengers – and supports a modern, thriving city centre.