Colchester Riverside

Transforming a brownfield site with new homes, communal co-living spaces, and a publicly accessible riverside courtyard

The Colchester Riverside project is a transformative scheme on a brownfield site currently home to two largely vacant 1970s office blocks, Century House, and ancillary parking. The development will deliver a high-quality, mid-rise co-living residential environment integrated with commercial and communal spaces while respecting the historic context. Key collaborators include Elder as developer, and Darling Associates as lead architect. Circle were appointed as Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor, overseeing project control, team appointments, cost planning, and programme management. The project seeks to reconnect the site to River Colne and Castle Park, introducing pedestrian permeability, landscaped public realms, and active ground-floor uses.

Project highlights

2

mid-rise buildings of up to five storeys

370

co-living units and 30 apartments within the existing block

Expert management for a challenging riverside site

Circle was appointed at RIBA stage 2 to provide project management in the lead-up to the planning submission which was submitted in May 2026. Our team established project control frameworks, coordinated the multidisciplinary design team, and ensured deadlines for pre-application submissions and design review panels were met.

We play a critical role in managing the site’s constraints. The development sits adjacent to the River Colne, within a high-risk flood zone, requiring early engagement with flood engineers and careful consideration of ground-floor uses and landscaping to mitigate risk. Neighbour matters were also key: the ground floor of Century House contains long-lease retail units, and nearby garages and Grade II listed cottages demanded sensitive planning to maintain access and respect heritage views. We coordinated closely with consultants and stakeholders to find practical solutions that avoided disruption, while also keeping the project on a tight programme. Later, we also took on Quantity Surveyor responsibilities, monitoring costs, validating budgets, and supporting financial decision-making to ensure the project remained viable while aligning with design ambitions and site constraints.

Enhancing Colchester’s character while building for the future

The development embraces sustainability and urban integration. It will feature two mid-rise buildings sensitively scaled to the existing site, providing co-living studios alongside shared amenities including lounges, co-working areas, fitness facilities, and communal kitchens. Century House will be retained and enhanced, anchoring the High Street frontage, while the other two office blocks are proposed for demolition to improve site permeability and riverfront access. The public realm will include a central riverside courtyard, new cycling routes, and a car-free environment aside from accessible parking. Passive design strategies, south-facing units, and green landscaping aim to create low-energy, well-lit living environments. The scheme also contributes to social and economic benefits, providing spaces for small businesses, a public river-facing café, and opportunities to attract students, graduates, and key workers to Colchester. Circle’s Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor roles continue to influence the delivery of these design and sustainability ambitions, ensuring the proposal balances quality, programme, and budget considerations.