Work is set to begin on the first phase of the £8 million Heart of Greenstead regeneration project, which is investing in community facilities to improve residents’ access to health, employment and childcare services and opportunities in Greenstead.
A community-focused regeneration
Heart of Greenstead will bring services and community facilities together, with the aim of improving health and wellbeing, creating lasting social value and making it easier for residents to access local opportunities and participate in community life.
Heart of Greenstead will bring services and community facilities together, with the aim of improving health and wellbeing, creating lasting social value and making it easier for residents to access local opportunities and participate in community life.
First phase of construction
The first phase will create better, purpose-designed settings for several local services. The Library Service will move permanently into a newer, larger space in the refurbished and extended Greenstead Community Centre, where it will form part of a multi-service hub alongside a café and a Colchester Borough Homes customer service contact point. The new library will be fitted out to the standard of recent library improvements in Shenfield, Harwich and Colchester.
The first phase will create better, purpose-designed settings for several local services. The Library Service will move permanently into a newer, larger space in the refurbished and extended Greenstead Community Centre, where it will form part of a multi-service hub alongside a café and a Colchester Borough Homes customer service contact point. The new library will be fitted out to the standard of recent library improvements in Shenfield, Harwich and Colchester.
Moving the Library Service will allow the existing Greenstead Library building to be fully refurbished and converted into a bespoke early-years setting for Little Explorers Nursery and the Child and Family Wellbeing Service, representing a significant improvement on their current premises. Family Solutions staff and residents will also benefit from a more welcoming, comfortable setting in the community centre, co-located with other community services.
Work is beginning this week, following coordination with the organisations involved in the project. To enable the refurbishment and service moves, the Library Service will operate from a temporary building next to the Greenstead Library building while construction is under way, so residents can continue to borrow and return books and access essential library services.
The relocated library is expected to open in 2027, with other facilities following in 2028.
What phase one will deliver
Phase one, being delivered by Carmelcrest, will include:
Phase one, being delivered by Carmelcrest, will include:
- refurbishment of the existing library building into an early years/children’s hub
- a new extension to Greenstead Community Centre, including a library, café, and Colchester Borough Homes’ customer service contact point
- demolition of the existing Colchester Borough Homes and Family Solutions offices to create a welcoming public space for residents and visitors
Building on local improvements
The wider Heart of Greenstead project builds on improvements already made in the area, including traffic calming measures near schools, the expansion and refurbishment of Hawthorn GP Surgery, which has nearly doubled in size to better serve patients
The wider Heart of Greenstead project builds on improvements already made in the area, including traffic calming measures near schools, the expansion and refurbishment of Hawthorn GP Surgery, which has nearly doubled in size to better serve patients
Cllr Jeff Bray, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Heritage at Essex County Council, said: "The Heart of Greenstead is a significant investment in the future of the local community.
“By bringing together services that support children, families and residents of all ages, we are helping create facilities which are easier to access and better connected to the needs of local people.
“This project builds on other improvements already delivered in Greenstead and our commitment to working with partners to improve health, wellbeing and opportunities for local people.
"It's exciting to see work now moving forward and I look forward to seeing the lasting benefits for many years to come."
Cllr David King, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection, said: “Heart of Greenstead is about investing in people as well as buildings. By bringing services and community facilities together, we want to make it easier for residents to access support and opportunities and to feel connected to their community.
“Local people have helped shape the project from the beginning; we continue to work closely in partnership with the Greenstead Community Association who operate the Community Centre and those conversations have been important in making sure the plans reflect what the community needs.
“With work now moving into this first phase, we are beginning to turn those plans into facilities that will support families, improve access to services and bring lasting benefits to Greenstead.”
Partnership and next steps
Colchester City Council and Essex County Council are working in partnership to deliver the Heart of Greenstead, with a shared commitment to creating accessible, high-quality facilities for local residents.
Colchester City Council and Essex County Council are working in partnership to deliver the Heart of Greenstead, with a shared commitment to creating accessible, high-quality facilities for local residents.
Further information about temporary library arrangements and the construction programme will be shared with residents as the project progresses.