New buildings in Park Road

How many of you have, like myself, travelled along Park Road and wondered what was happening to the house adjacent to the old reservoirs in Park Road? It's been observed in various stages of what initially appeared to be demolition and, more latterly, partial rebuild.

The house (empty for the last four years or so) is situated right beside one of the two old reservoirs on the site and I had wondered if the demolition of the closest reservoir had disturbed the side foundations. Curiosity got the better of me and I visited the site and met with the site manager.

I was informed that the rebuild was always part of the plan for the site which will ultimately see six detached houses within a secure site (vehicular access will be through the new entrance being constructed and additional pedestrian access through the refurbished brick entrance to one of the reservoirs). The old house will be extended further to the side and rear resulting in the largest of the houses on site (five bedrooms, no less!).

The house was still in the ownership of Anglian Water along with the two redundant reservoirs. The site was sold for redevelopment with planning permission granted for residential build. The two old reservoirs had been redundant for many years. Similar to the main reservoir refurbished during 2011/12 each reservoir was covered in earth and indeed one area had been is use as a tennis court. They were both older than the refurbished main reservoir, one being built c.1890 and the other in the early 1900s.

The demolition has been a long difficult process but has now reached the stage where building of the new houses has commenced and the project is scheduled for final completion around May 2014. The floor of one reservoir has been left in situ with footings for the new construction broken through and provided with 600mm concrete pour. The rear of the reservoir walls are being left in situ (they provide some support to the main reservoir behind) and will be earthed up and landscaped.

The site is being developed by a contractor that has previously received an award from the Ipswich Society for a nearby development so perhaps we can anticipate a nomination in 2014.

I managed to take photographs of the site and others have been provided by the contractors. Do any readers have more information about the Park Road reservoir site or old photographs?

Graham Smith

The Old House now partially rebuilt

The Old Entrance Refurbished

One Reservoir Under Demolition Showing the Brick Arch Roof Construction

The Old House During Partial Demolition - Not a D.I.Y. Project!