As Britain’s first city and the former capital of Roman Britain, Colchester boasts a long, rich history. The proposed plans for St Botolph’s Quarter honour this heritage while fostering future development. They feature transforming a car park into a vibrant new public space, St Botolph’s Square, designed to host community events and markets.
The scheme has been developed by Colchester City Council, LCR Property, LDA Design, Haworth Tompkins, and HAT Projects.
The site covered by a recent application is a Scheduled Ancient Monument with at its heart St Botolph’s Priory, the first Augustinian priory in England and an impressive example of early Norman architecture dating back to 1100. The proposals recognise the Priory’s importance to Colchester as they seek to improve access and enhance its setting to encourage more people to visit and enjoy this free city asset.
Designs have been developed in consultation with Historic England and English Heritage, and historic maps have inspired the rediscovery of the lost layout of the Priory Gardens. Proposed footpaths now reflect the historic layout, with seating and planting to encourage people to sit back and admire the Priory.
Key to the proposals is a new, all-inclusive green pedestrian route linking Colchester Town train station to Colchester Castle via a new station entrance and heritage trail. The route will guide visitors through the scheduled ancient monument, including St Botolph’s Square, the Priory Gardens, St Botolph’s Priory, and over the original Roman Wall on Priory Street towards the Castle, unveiling the heart of the city centre and creating a great arrival for people coming in by rail.
A new destination play space is inspired by the distinct and artful forms of the Priory. Enhancements to the lighting will make the area feel safe and welcoming into the evening.
LDA Design project lead, Tom McCreesh, says: “Our designs strike a balance between creating a place for the everyday that is also flexible enough to host community events. They transform a car park into a thriving square, alongside beautiful, biodiverse gardens that reference the area’s history. We want to achieve the biggest benefits for local residents, businesses, and visitors, and for nature, and create public realm for Colchester that befits its city status.”
The planning application is a milestone in a programme of wider regeneration by the council aimed at dramatically improving Colchester’s central infrastructure by 2030. The work has been shaped by inclusive public engagement with residents, businesses, community groups, and organisations representing people with sensory impairments and physical disabilities to ensure the scheme is inclusive and accessible to all. This feedback has directly influenced key aspects of the layout and navigation.
A formal consultation period for the city to review the detailed proposals will now begin. If the application is approved, construction would commence in spring 2026.