Planning matters

Annual Planning Applications (as at 6.2.2017): a peak in 2003 of 1324, a trough of 847 in 2008 and a slow trend ever since to 1247 in 2016.

Cornhill. The Commissioning Group for the revision of the Cornhill received two thousand comments, the majority unsupportive of their proposals; it has realigned the brief to the architects. Their latest iteration will be put forward for a further consultation around the time you read this. We think that the changes may be acceptable to those who feel that physical changes are necessary to make the space more welcoming; they will remain unacceptable to those who feel public money should not be spent on improving anything more tangible than the surface.

Anglia Parkway Retail Park. The park has been largely empty for some time; its new owners (Trinistar Lux SA) have managed to fill many of the vacant units. From the west end, in the B&Q garden shop, will be Billy Beez trampoline centre with a family gym; next Go Outdoors then The Range will replace B&Q. Comet has a variation of conditions approved to sell ‘food' up to 20% of sales area; would fresh and/or frozen be permitted? Tenant has not been announced but it will probably be Dunelm. Smyths Toys will open in June in an adjacent unit. There has been an application this week from CDS Superstores trading as The Range, (the company aims to provide ‘everything for lifestyle at affordable prices') for increasing the right hand end of B&Q by 20% to make it able to stock their full 65,000 product range. A full sequential analysis of all the Borough's possible available sites makes only one possible choice. The town centre effect is estimated to be a 2.66% fall which is equivalent to £16.18m annually. Despite improved access to Suffolk Retail Park it is still considered inadequate. I think we can say that this marks the end of Carr Street and the Westgate Centre as retail areas.

Agricultural land, Whitton Lane, Old Norwch Road and Fisks Lane. A large, high, camouflaged distribution warehouse for Faithfull's floor coverings. A greenfield site zoned for employment with access only from Anglia Parkway North. Objections locally and from SPS*: loss of agricultural land; visual, light and noise pollution. The Society made no comment - the land is secluded and unused; vast warehouses don't produce much external noise and the trucks will come in from the Bury Road. Stringent conditions are to be applied addressing those points. We agree, however, with SPS that it is an extension of Ipswich into the countryside.

Old Archant Offices, Lower Brook Street. McCarthy and Stone development of 61 apartments,11 houses, communal facilities, landscaping and car parking. They are aesthetically and reasonably attractive. As is the norm, the developers will ensure car parking, security, communal and leisure facilities. We support it, except the 1.8 metre wall as boundary treatment. It is limited to the 55+ age group.

14 High Street, Ipswich. This small block of 1930s shops with offices above is in a prominent position overlooking Crown Street. In the Central Conservation area, it is not listed nor on the local list, it forms the modernist entrance to the greater importance of Westgate Street and Museum Street. It is therefore important to conserve the windows in a form that is nearly as original as possible whilst providing modern standards of insulation and low maintenance costs. It is now possible to do this as Crittall provide a conservation window replacement service.

Mike Cook [*Suffolk Preservation Society]