Hotel bid at ex-post office looks set for approval

Developers are looking to build a 75-bed Moxy hotel at a former post office in Colchester city centre

Plans to transform a former post office into a hotel look set to be approved by a city council.

Colchester City Council's planning committee will debate the plans at a meeting on 15 August — and the planning officer overseeing the bid has recommended it be approved.

A report confirms the former city centre post office in Colchester, Essex, could become a 75-bed Moxy hotel, a brand owned by the Marriott hotel chain.

The council has already given planning permission for a 120-bed Moxy hotel to be built at the site of an abandoned cinema about 320m (1,050ft) away.

The Moxy brand has also been linked to a former cinema in Colchester city centre

The post office in North Hill closed in 2018 when a post office counter opened in a nearby WH Smith store.

It overlooks Jumbo, a historic water tower, from one side, and the city's High Street from the other.

'Eyesore'

City centre councillor and planning committee member Mark Goacher said he was concerned either the former cinema or post office would stay empty.

"Either one of those buildings being empty is a bad thing," said Green Party councillor Mr Goacher.

"The Odeon has been an eyesore for years but it would be nice to get the post office filled with something."

Colchester City Council approved the planning application relating to the former Odeon cinema in Crouch Street in March.

Developers must retain its 1930s façade if the project goes ahead.

Pam Cox, the Labour MP for Colchester, said she was pleased hotel brands were interested in coming to the city.

"I know the planning committee will want to look carefully at the applications submitted to them so that they fit in well to the local area and are mindful of their impact on neighbouring businesses and residents," she added.

The BBC has asked Marriott to confirm if it intends to open hotels at both locations.