New private partner needed

The planning application lodged with the Borough Council in August is due to be determined before the end of November. Planning permission is being sought for mixed use for the building: about one quarter for an interpretation centre plus front garden, another quarter or so for offices for the Colchester Archaeological Trust and the remainder for private housing in the form of one town house and four flats. This is a major step forward in the project and consent is eagerly anticipated.

This whole project has been very problematic and – nothing new here (!) – there is another problem. Two private partners had been found for the housing but one of them dropped out leaving a shortfall in our funding package of about £200,000 to cover the purchase price of the building and the basic refurbishment of its shell and services. Consequently we now need a new private partner and we are actively seeking one. If you are interested or know of anybody who might be, please email the cat website (catuk.org) addressed to info.