Two car parks in an Essex city could undergo a huge refurbishment that could take around a year to complete. Council bosses hope work to upgrade the St Mary’s and St John’s car parks could start in March.
The work is expected to be completed by Spring 2026 with an anticipated cost in the region of £1 million. The repairs will focus on maintaining the structure of the essential car parks to ensure a further ten-year lifespan, including widening parking bays to accommodate the larger size of modern vehicles.
This change will help ensure that all spaces are fully utilised. It is also hoped to provide drivers with the confidence to park without concern about fitting into tight spaces.
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“With wider cars on the road, many of our city centre parking bays are underused simply because they are too narrow for modern vehicles,” Cllr Martin Goss (Lib. Dem.), Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Waste, said. “By widening the bays in St Mary’s and improving the access to St John’s Car Parks – in addition to other upgrades – we will not only make these areas more accessible, but we are also preparing for the future as part of our broader regeneration efforts.”
Colchester City Council said updated payment systems, decorations, upgraded CCTV, and improved lighting will also enhance the drivers’ experience, alongside improvements to pedestrian areas once repairs are made. They said these upgrades are designed to provide added peace of mind and ensure a safe and welcoming environment, whatever the hour.
St John’s car park in Colchester
The improvements to St Mary’s and St John’s Car Parks are part of Colchester’s broader efforts to modernise and future-proof the city’s infrastructure in anticipation of the upcoming multi-million-pound regeneration for Britannia Car Park.
In addition to the bay widening, the repairs will focus on waterproofing the surfacing and maintaining the structural integrity of both car parks, ensuring their continued safe use for the long term. These improvements are designed to accommodate the needs of both today’s drivers and those in the future.
Cllr Goss added: “These changes are part of a wider commitment to ensuring that Colchester’s city centre is well-equipped to handle future growth. By improving parking facilities now, we are ensuring that our infrastructure can support the city’s regeneration, which will include major changes to nearby areas like Britannia Car Park and beyond.”