Essex County Council
Essex Highways

Colchester Bus Station Interchange

We're inviting you to help shape plans for a new Bus Station Interchange in Colchester City Centre.

To give your views, please read our consultation guide and visit our consultation page.

Your feedback will help us to shape proposals and developed a more detailed design to take forward. It will also help us build a case to support future funding bids. 

Cover of the Delivering a new Bus Station Interchange for Colchester consultation guide

A need for additional space for buses

Colchester Current Bus station with buses, bus drivers and waiting passengers

As bus services continue to expand, the current bus station at Osborne Street is operating beyond its intended capacity. Without changes, it could be handling around four times the amount of usage it was designed for within the next 15 years.

Currently providing six stops, forecasts show that up to 25 bus stops and five layover bays may be needed to support future demand.

Bus operators and passengers have also highlighted concerns about passenger facilities, accessibility and the overall experience of using Osborne Street.

A new chapter for Painters Yard

Painters Yard and Firstsite

Following a review of potential city centre sites for a new bus station interchange, we have identified that the remaining space at Painters Yard provides the best option in terms of cost, location and operational requirements for bus operators.

Located off Queen Street, the site was previously used as a bus station depot and has more recently seen the creation of FirstSite Arts Gallery and business units.

It benefits from existing and planned walking and cycling connections, including the proposed Priory Steps scheme, linking the site with St Botolph’s Quarter, which will improve the walking route to Colchester Town Station, as well as the area around St Botolph’s Priory.

A bus station interchange at Painters Yard will provide the additional transport capacity Colchester needs.

Based on the initial concept layouts, creating a new bus station at Painters Yard would cost in the region of £20million to £25million.

Initial concepts

At this stage we have created two initial concept plans. These are not the final designs, but instead set out how a new interchange could be delivered.

Layout Concept One provides more public space, putting bus stops along the northern and southern edges of the site. By splitting the stops this approach creates additional space for landscaping, public areas and community use.

Layout Concept Two provides a simpler passenger experience through a more compact and concentrated bus station interchange, with passengers and facilities located within a single central area.

The benefits and considerations for both layouts can be seen in our consultation guide.

 

Improved passenger facilities – Creating a mobility hub

Image showing an AI concept of how Painter Yard may look

A future bus station interchange at Painters Yard will be created as a mobility hub. This means it will support different ways of travelling, including walking, cycling, bus, taxi and rail connections.

A new bus station interchange will provide not just bus services, but also facilities such as toilets, sheltered waiting areas with lighting and CCTV, real-time information screens and cycle parking and provision for e-bikes.

Getting involved

Residents, businesses and public transport users have told us they want better public transport facilities in Colchester. We are now exploring how a new Colchester Bus Station Interchange at Painters Yard could help meet the city’s future needs.

The consultation will run from Tuesday 29 September to Sunday 8 November.

We would like your views on:

  • The need for a new Colchester Bus Station Interchange and Painters Yard as the preferred location.
  • Emerging layout concepts for the site.
  • Facilities and services that could be included.
  • Opportunities to improve public spaces, landscaping and the visitor experience.

We will use this consultation to help refine the proposals and develop a preferred design.

Take part by completing our consultation.

Next steps

  1. Consultation

    Consult on preferred site

  2. Confirmation of preferred site option

    Based on evaluation and public feedback

  3. Refine designs

    Engagement and decisions to identify and secure funding

  4. Scheme development

    Preliminary design, planning application and legal consents

  5. Procure contractor

    Select contractor, detailed designs and construction plans

  6. Construction

    Works start to build new bus station interchange

Get in touch

If you would like to get in touch with us directly, please email colchesterinterchange@essexhighways.org.

You can also write to us at:
FREEPOST
ESSEX HIGHWAYS ENGAGEMENT TEAM