Introducing Community MicroApps: Hyper-Local Mobile Apps for Colchester Neighbourhoods

Starting with Highwoods - Your Neighbourhood, In Your Pocket

As part of our Colchester.City project initiative, we're developing Community MicroApps - dedicated mobile applications designed specifically for individual neighbourhoods across Colchester.

And we're building Highwoods as our first community.

What is a Community MicroApp?

A Community MicroApp is a lightweight, focused mobile app built exclusively for residents of a specific neighbourhood. Unlike generic social platforms where you're competing with the entire internet for attention, your Community MicroApp connects you only with your actual neighbours - the people who live on your streets, share your local concerns, and care about the same patch of Colchester you call home.

One Account, Seamless Access: When Colchester.City launches, you'll use the same account to access both the main platform and your Community MicroApp. No separate passwords to remember, no duplicate profiles to manage.

Why Highwoods First?

Highwoods has a strong sense of community identity, active residents who care about their neighbourhood, and the perfect blend of established families and newcomers who want to connect. It's the ideal place to pilot this new approach to hyper-local community building.

What Will You Be Able to Do With the Highwoods App?

🏠 Stay Connected with Your Community

Share updates, news, and moments from around Highwoods. See what's happening on your doorstep, not the other side of the city.

🔍 The Wanted Wall

Need a recommendation for a local tradesperson? Looking for someone to walk your dog while you're on holiday? Post your request and get responses from neighbours who've been there.

🏷️ Local Marketplace

Selling furniture? Giving away kids' toys they've outgrown? List items for sale or free collection to people who can actually come and pick them up — no more arranging pickups with strangers from miles away.

👁️ Neighbourhood Watch

Report and view alerts about suspicious activity, safety concerns, or community warnings. Keep each other informed and keep Highwoods safe, together.

🚨 Community Alerts

Time-sensitive information that your neighbours need to know — now. From burst water mains to lost pets, get the word out instantly to people who can actually help.

📅 What's On

Discover local events happening in and around Colchester. Never miss a community gathering, local fair, or neighbourhood meetup.

📞 Your Local Councillors

Quick access to contact details for your local representatives. One tap to email or call.

Built on Trust: Invitation-Only Access

Here's what will make Community MicroApps different from other neighbourhood platforms: you can only join if you're invited by an existing member, and you must be physically in Highwoods to register.

This isn't about exclusivity - it's about trust. When you post something in your Community MicroApp, you know it's being seen by genuine neighbours, not anonymous accounts or people with no connection to your area.

Every member can invite new neighbours, creating a natural, trusted network that grows organically through real community connections.

Safety First

We're building robust moderation tools to keep the community safe and welcoming:

Report content or users with a single tap
Block anyone you'd rather not interact with
Admin moderation to handle issues quickly
Clear community guidelines everyone agrees to

In Development for iOS and Android

The Highwoods Community MicroApp is currently in development and will be available on both the App Store and Google Play. We'll share more details as we get closer to launch.

This is Just the Beginning

Highwoods is our pilot community. Once we've refined the experience based on real feedback from real neighbours, we'll be rolling out Community MicroApps to other areas across Colchester.

Imagine every neighbourhood in our city having its own dedicated space to connect, share, and look out for each other. That's the vision — and Highwoods is where it starts.

What makes this worthwhile is that features can be added that serve our community directly - we don't need to worry about the bigger picture because there isn't one. So no shareholders or corporate decisions to maximise profits - just features that work and make a difference to us.

Want to Get Involved?

If you're a Highwoods resident interested in being part of the initial launch group, or if you'd like to see a Community MicroApp for your neighbourhood, get in touch through the Colchester.City project page.

We are currently in the design phase - if you have ideas and want to help shape this project then now is your opportunity!

Your neighbourhood. Your community. Your app.

The Community MicroApp initiative is part of our wider Colchester.City project, working to keep Colchester connected and strengthen our local communities.