Revamp for city's oldest building back on track

Plans to revamp an 11th Century church are back on track after the project was awarded £2.65m, a council has said.

The Holy Trinity Church is believed to be the oldest building still standing in Colchester, but it ceased being used for religious services in 1954 and has been empty since 2017.

Colchester City Council said it hoped the money awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund would help the authority reopen it as a community space for the public.

Conservative Paul Dundas, the leader at the city council, said: "We're investing in a place where people can spend time [and] connect with the city's heritage."

The council says the regeneration is part of a wider £3.4m package, with support from Historic England, The Pilgrim Trust, Essex Heritage Trust, the council's Community Assets Fund and with contributions from private developers.

David King, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader and portfolio holder for communities and public protection, said: "This project, by location and prominence, is key to our city's visible and welcoming regeneration."

The council said it would move into detailed design work and would appoint a contractor to deliver the restoration.

A timeline would be shared as the project progressed, a spokesperson added.

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