Developments

Key milestone reached for Grade II listed building at Lexden Gardens

23 May 2025

Phase one of the Lexden Gardens development in Colchester has reached a key milestone.

The development of 63 new homes on the former Essex County Hospital site in Colchester includes the restoration of the Grade II listed hospital building which has deep-rooted heritage and holds a significant place in the local community.

Extensive works have been undertaken on the listed building to make it watertight. Essex Housing celebrated completion of this part of the work with a special event on 17 April.

The team will now speed up works to the internal parts of the building. The restored building will become a focal point of the new development.

Lexden Gardens has a tremendous past and it’s wonderful that we are able to honour its history while providing beautiful, modern living spaces that are both sustainable and respectful of the building's heritage.

Councillor Lee Scott, Cabinet Member for Planning a Growing Economy

The redevelopment of the former hospital, which closed its doors in 2018, is being led by Essex Housing Development LLP. This is Essex County Council’s in-house housing development arm. It is being constructed by Kind & Co Ltd.

The site occupies a prime location within easy walking distance to the city centre. Through three-phases of development, this scheme will regenerate a landmark site in Colchester. It will create 120 new homes in total to meet local demand. At the same time, it will restore the Grade II listed hospital building and other heritage assets.

Essex Housing obtained planning permission for this exciting new development in July 2020. Extensive archaeology and enabling works have been carried out since then.

To find out more, visit www.lexdengardens.co.uk

We are proud to bring new life to this historic building and committed to ensuring the development reflects the history of the site. We hope it becomes a new focal point for the community of Colchester.

Councillor Ray Gooding, Chair of Essex Housing Development LLP