Work on restaurant and retail destination underway

The East of England Co-op have awarded local business Rose Builders the contract to transform their former department store on Long Wyre Street into a new restaurant and retail destination for Colchester.

As well as two retail and five restaurant units, the development also includes 24 apartments comprising suites and one and two bed units, two of which will be available at affordable rents through Colchester Borough Homes. 

Steven Rose, Owner of Rose Builders, said: "We are delighted and proud to be working with the East of England Co-operative, delivering their vision for these redundant buildings. We will be remodelling and refurbishing the former department store into a format fit for a 21st century Colchester Town Centre."

Rose Builders are just one of several local businesses to be working on the development, with Stanley Bragg (Architect), Dudley Smith Partnership (Surveyors and Project Managers), MLM Group, Chelmsford (Engineering Consultants) and Fenn Wright, Colchester also working on the £5.5 million project. 

Nick Denny, Joint Chief Executive for the East of England Co-op, said: "Long Wyre Street has a special place in our long history, so we are incredibly pleased to have brought Rose Builders on-board to bring our plans to fruition. 

"As a co-operative we place a great amount of importance on supporting our local communities and businesses, and so are very pleased to be working with a number of well-respected businesses from across Colchester and Essex. 

"There has already been a great amount of interest shown in the units and we look forward to providing a new destination for residents and visitors to Colchester."

Scheduled for completion in Autumn 2020, the development is currently being advertised nationally by independent retail and leisure property consultancy Jamieson Mills, whilst the suites and apartments will be let and managed by Fenn Wright, Colchester.