Planning matters

33 Silent Street (The Labour Club) Demolition of function room and replacement.

Last and Tricker's proposal is for a three storey function room. The demolition of the current WWII army huts originally from Colchester can only be objected to by a very small group of enthusiasts for such militaria. However the design of the replacement three storey function room is hard to describe. Of brick it has bricked-in reveals as if the window tax still existed and brick piers whose function is obscure. This building affects the setting of listed buildings nearby and thus must be revised.

ex-Littlewoods Tower Ramparts.

The developer has managed to let the ground floor (reputedly Iceland). New doors and separation of the remainder of the two floors are required, though the plans say nothing about how this is to be achieved. In addition, the River Island clothing shop is moving into a unit of Tower Ramparts shopping centre fronting Tavern Street.

Bader Close 108 dwellings for IBC/Orwell Housing Association.

This important project (value £11m) on a disused sports area has been designed by Chapman Architects of Norwich. Whilst we are unhappy about the layout in so far as not enough houses face south, the levels of insulation, the lack of play areas and car parking provision, the architects have agreed to revisit these points. Overall, the scheme is good-looking and is to be welcomed.

Tudor House, Stone Lodge Lane.

Both the Society and the Conservation & Design Panel supported the development of this garden for a sizeable new house or that is to be a Swedish flat-pack highly sustainable build, but we had serious concerns about the appearance; the Officers and the Planning and Development Committee appeared to give no weight to our views and granted permission. I find it hard to know how to improve this continuing granting of permission to aesthetically unsatisfactory buildings. Partly it is due to the Borough Council Officers' unwillingness to discourage any developer with only a half baked idea from building it.

10 Museum Street.

Suffolk Police intend their Ipswich presence to be this office building, difficult to reach by car. They wish to place an information board, an emergency telephone point and move the Blue Lamp from the Town Hall. Permission granted, despite advice as to the effect of the various additions to the exterior of a listed building.

Business Development Land, Ravenswood (next to Bluebird Lodge).

A very reasonable development of an 82 bed care home was agreed with some conditions attached as to boundary treatments and landscaping.

Tesco, Grafton Way.

It is still unclear what will happen. It should be remembered that permission has not been granted because no section 106 agreement was reached. When the three years from granting conditional permission is up (February 11 2014) the planners may well reconsider the zoning of the site for something other than retail. However, Tesco could well reapply or sell on. The redevelopment of the site is, to me, one of the key decisions for both the Waterfront and the town centre.

John Bull Woodbridge Rd.

The pub is now closed and is being converted into three take-away hot food outlets.

St Clements Hospital.

An outline application for demolition of some unimportant buildings and conversion of locally listed hospital building to: 48 dwellings: 12 town houses,10 duplex apartments and 26 apartments and ii) 179 dwellings: 2,3,4 and 5 bedroom houses, retention of sports facilities, public open space etc. also new substation at retained mental health facilities.

The Woolpack is alive and well under its latest management and, assuming that they can extend their catering arrangements slightly, quality food will be available. We look forward to the Pack's return to flourishment.

Mike Cook