Partly due to my fractured hip making it impossible to attend meetings physically – and partly due to their reduced frequency because of the recent local elections – this is a much shorter report than usual.

 

Land between Tye Road and Unity Street, Duke Street. The developer proposed a five storey, 160-bedroom student building, with minimal parking provision. There were a considerable number of objections from local residents, ward councillors and from the Conservation and Urban Design Panel.  

Firstly, there was no proof for the need for more student accommodation, Athena House being half-empty and the support from the university being lukewarm. Secondly, the block was too tall and overbearing in an area where the current height is around two storeys. Thirdly, the provision for car parking was inadequate and accessibility was too low. The Councillors on the Planning and Development Committee rejected the Officers recommendation to approve and voted to refuse permission.

 

1 Kettlebaston Way Appeal. 21/00962  The developers of the proposed 70-bed care home appealed IBC’s refusal of March 2022; the appeal was dismissed by the Inspector who stated positively that the ‘proposal would not harm the character and appearance of the surrounding area, and there would be economic, social and environmental benefits from the scheme’.  

However, the Inspector went on to report ‘I have also found that the proposal would be likely to give rise to an increased demand for on-street parking which would have a harmful effect on the safe operation of the highway’. There is no news of what the Fonnereau Trust and the developers are proposing to do now. I put the full appeal reference and the verbatim quote from the report in full as I know many members are keen to know what is happening to the much-lamented Victoria Nursery site.

 

The Island site, Ipswich Docks. ABP, the owners, hired Legal & General (L&G) to develop a large part of the island for residential use, for which it is zoned in the Ipswich Local Plan. The Chair and I attended a Public Consultation at the Customs House at which we learnt that the proposal was for two blocks of two and three storey modular houses, totalling 177 dwellings, separated by the Harbour Master Office and the original Lock Gate Keepers cottage.  

Whilst adequate car parking for the houses is to be provided, there was little for the yacht berth holders. Some landscaping would come on The New Cut side but reinstallation of ‘The Umbrella’ was not in their remit as the land is owned by DEFRA. A pedestrian and cycle bridge will be built as SCC has allocated £9m to it; thus, there will be a Way, if not a Right! However, in the month, L&G have announced the closure of their modular factory near Leeds after a loss of £170,000,000.  Note that the Local Plan aimed at over four hundred dwellings. Meanwhile, The Ipswich Society and The Ipswich Maritime Trust are negotiating with Historic England to have the original cottages listed at Grade 2.

We are also keen to see a Master Plan for the whole of the Island Site, including the longer-term proposals for the marina, cycle and pedestrian paths that encircle the ‘Island’ and possibly some green public open space (as opposed to minute ‘pocket parks’ which seem to serve nobody).

 

ITFC Portman Road. Gamechanger 20, the owners, together with the CEO Mark Ashton and the Chair, Mike O’Leary, are continuing their proposals to upgrade the stadium in line with their ambitions for the club in its newly promoted status to the championship. The first major change to the stadium is a new access route from the railway station and entrance under the South Stand.  This has been made possible by the demolition of the former Staples building in Russell Road, creating a view of the stadium as fans walk across Princes Street bridge. Demolition of modern buildings does not require planning permission, but the Local Authority do require a method statement to ensure public safety.  Planning Permission was required for the changes to create turnstiles and internal access routes within the South Stand.

A separate application was for changes in the Magnus Group (West) Stand, the infilling of voids to create new open plan office floor space and repurposing of spaces across the existing first floor, to create new floor space on the second floor to provide new Hospitality suites. Secondly, they wish to create a memorial garden for those whose ashes are interred at the stadium and a peaceful area of remembrance. This would be in a raised area at the Portman Road entrance.

 

Arras Square. This the long-awaited application by the Borough Council to improve Arras Square. It has been prepared by a group of architects, civil engineers, lighting designers, arboriculturists and ecologists.

The proposals are comprehensive and include seven main points:-

– Decluttering of existing street furniture and elements which are defunct and installing new street furniture and benches, including a concrete stair and ramp with integrated seating and planting.

– Repaving the entire site, which includes St Stephen’s Lane west of the Church but not the stretch providing vehicular access into the Sainsbury’s service yard.

– Accessibility improvements include a ramp to the North of St. Stephen’s Church to improve the  thoroughfare between St Stephen’s Church Lane and the Buttermarket Centre.

– The removal of ten trees to improve visibility and overshadowing and to decrease damage to paving, reduce anti-social behaviour and replace them with eleven more suitable trees in carefully considered locations.

– Removal of the external boundary wall to sarcophagi on the east of the site to make them more accessible to read. Repair work to the Sarcophagi to ensure their stability.

– Energy-efficient LED lights will replace existing wall-mounted luminaires and lamp columns with simple modern fittings. Low-level fittings and up lighters on the church’s external walls will improve the evening and night-time atmosphere and support the use of the church as an evening live music venue.

– An initial proposal is to paint the brick walls east and south of the church yard, and along the narrow passageway. The mural on the rear wall of Wilkinson’s, and along the wall separating the service yard from the graveyard will be subject to an artistic competition, that along St Stephen’s Church Lane may well replicate stylised medieval church architecture.

Some of the proposals have aroused criticism. Is it necessary to remove so many mature trees?  Will painted walls in St. Stephen’s Church Lane not just become a graffiti paradise? Do rising bollards really work? (they mostly do but are expensive to repair). Is the paving pattern too fussy? (me). But these are details which will be discussed before the work is carried out, and it will be a huge improvement if they can get rid of the cars whilst maintaining delivery access to the former BHS Arras Square entrance. Improving the paving and lighting in St Stephens Church Lane is a must! Please Mr Ashley – reopen the empty BHS store and bring some life back into Arras Square.

Mike Cook

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