How many care home beds are there in Colchester?

There are 1,685 registered care home beds across 77 CQC-registered homes in Colchester, of which 795 are in homes registered for nursing care and 1,156 in homes registered for dementia care (2026-07-10).

Is Colchester undersupplied or oversupplied with care beds?

Colchester has 38.2 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — oversupplied. That is 250 beds above what the national rate implies.

How will demand for care beds in Colchester change by 2043?

The population aged 85+ in Colchester is projected to change by +69.2% between 2025 and 2043 (ONS 2022-based projections). Held at today's 1,685 beds, that would be 22.6 beds per 100 aged 85+ — undersupplied, a shortfall of 742 beds at the national rate.

How many care beds does Colchester need?

At the national rate of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+, Colchester would hold about 1,435 beds today against its actual 1,685, rising to roughly 2,427 beds by 2043 as the 85+ population grows.

Care in Colchester

77 homes · 1,685 beds · CQC + ONS · 2026-07-10

Colchester carries 38.2 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — oversupplied

38.2

beds per 100 aged 85+ (national 32.5)

1,685

registered beds · 77 homes

4,415

residents aged 85+ (2020)

+69.2%

projected 85+ change to 2043

Colchester looks oversupplied today — but its population aged 85+ is projected to change +69.2% by 2043. Hold today's 1,685 beds and the same stock falls to 22.6 per 100, a shortfall of 742 beds. Today's balance is tomorrow's shortage.

4,415

85+ today

7,469

85+ in 2043

Demand & supply today

Residents aged 75+	15,649
Residents aged 85+	4,415
Registered care beds	1,685
Beds per 100 aged 85+	38.2
Beds at the national rate (32.5/100)	1,435
Surplus vs national rate	250 beds
Beds in homes registered for nursing	795
Beds in homes registered for dementia	1,156

Quality of the existing stock

77% of beds sit in homes rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC. 312 beds sit in homes rated Requires improvement or Inadequate — supply that may not endure, and therefore latent demand a new scheme can plan around.

Outstanding · 65Good · 1,227Requires improvement · 278Inadequate · 34Not rated · 81

Largest providers in Colchester

Provider	Homes	Beds
Runwood Homes Limited	1	143
Bupa Care Homes (CFHCare) Limited	1	123
Balkerne Gardens Trust Limited	2	73
Stow Healthcare Group Limited	1	73
St. Fillan Healthcare Limited	1	71
Outlook Care	1	69
Carebase (Colchester) Limited	1	65
Aurem Care (The Oaks) Limited	1	61

Appraising a care site in Colchester?

Threshold Care turns this picture into a site-level appraisal: drop a pin, set the catchment, and see the over-85 demand, every competing home and its CQC rating, the gap, and the maximum land bid — in under 60 seconds.

Become a founding partner →

Care in Colchester — questions

How many care home beds are there in Colchester?: There are 1,685 registered care home beds across 77 CQC-registered homes in Colchester, of which 795 are in homes registered for nursing care and 1,156 in homes registered for dementia care (2026-07-10).
Is Colchester undersupplied or oversupplied with care beds?: Colchester has 38.2 beds per 100 residents aged 85+, against a national average of 32.5 — oversupplied. That is 250 beds above what the national rate implies.
How will demand for care beds in Colchester change by 2043?: The population aged 85+ in Colchester is projected to change by +69.2% between 2025 and 2043 (ONS 2022-based projections). Held at today's 1,685 beds, that would be 22.6 beds per 100 aged 85+ — undersupplied, a shortfall of 742 beds at the national rate.
How many care beds does Colchester need?: At the national rate of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+, Colchester would hold about 1,435 beds today against its actual 1,685, rising to roughly 2,427 beds by 2043 as the 85+ population grows.

Nearby authorities in East of England: East Suffolk · Central Bedfordshire · South Norfolk · South Cambridgeshire · King's Lynn and West Norfolk · Chelmsford · Dacorum · West Suffolk · Babergh · Basildon
All of East of England · All areas

Method: CQC HSCA Active Locations give every registered care home, its beds, registration scope (nursing / dementia) and latest rating; each home is assigned to a local authority by its nearest ONS population-weighted centroid. Demand is ONS small-area population aged 75+/85+ (2020); growth is ONS 2022-based subnational projections for the 85+ band (2025–2043). The national benchmark of 32.5 beds per 100 aged 85+ is computed from the same data, not assumed. Figures are estimates for research and site screening, not a substitute for a commissioned feasibility study. Updated July 2026.