Turnstone Estates wins consent for £50m leisure scheme

Turnstone Estates has gained planning approval from Colchester Borough Council for a £50m leisure development in Colchester. The 200,000 sq ft Northern Gateway scheme will offer a 12-screen Cineworld cinema, a Hollywood Bowl centre, a Puttstars indoor mini-golf concept, a Jump Street climbing centre, seven restaurants, two drive-thrus and a 90-bedroom hotel. It will also provide rapid EV charging points. It is set to open around 2022-23, with works scheduled to start early next year. Chris Goldsmith, managing director of Turnstone Estates, said: “With the arrival of a Covid vaccine on the horizon, we look forward to life returning to a near normal and people having a wide variety of choices to enjoy themselves once again.” David King, portfolio holder for business and resources for Colchester Borough Council, said: “This is a real positive milestone for the new leisure development. “Progress to transform the Northern Gateway into a hub for improved wellbeing, physical activity, jobs, housing and renewable energy will now continue to stride forward.” Whybrow and Wareing & Partners are advising Turnstone. To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette