Plans to move Colchester Rugby Club have moved a step closer

The £5million move from the club’s base in Mill Road is part of Colchester Council’s plans to create a Northern Gateway on land by the Weston Homes Community Stadium and the park and ride.

The Northern Gateway plans have already seen approval given to open a David Lloyd Leisure Club and a firm has also been chosen to develop extreme sports facilities, a 12-screen cinema and restaurants there.

Council leader Paul Smith said: “We are getting to the stage now where the rugby club is growing and as such needs better facilities and we are looking to locate that the other side of the A12, near to where the park and ride is.

“That has the advantage if the rugby club does really well, the park and ride could serve as a car park for them, as it does for Colchester United.”

Mr Smith said the new rugby facility could also be built alongside another specialised sports centre.

He added: “To raise the money to pay for all this we will have to sell part of the existing rugby ground for someone to build a housing development.

“That will produce a sizeable amount of money which will pay for this facility.”

Mr Smith was unable to say how much the new rugby facility will cost or how much housing would be needed to help pay for it. He said: “That’s the bit we are looking at, at the moment. That will be commercially sensitive.

“We will be looking to give up as little of the rugby ground for as much money as possible. Clearly there would be negotiations there and there would be affordable housing.”

He added: “It is all tied up with how much it costs to move the rugby club and whether they can get any grants which would reduce the costs.”

It has previously been claimed the rugby club move could cost £5million which Mr Smith said was a good ball-park figure, but said some of that money could come from other sources.