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Issue 156 Newsletter July 2004 


Contents: 


• Editorial: Two Big Issues

• Members' Social Evening

• New Members

• Chairman on Current Affairs

• Convenient Bus Stops

• Ambitions for Cranfields

• Major Planning Matters

• The AGM & The Architect

• The Corn Exchange

• Different Crown Courts

• Goodbye Martin & Newby's

• The Houses of Parliament

• Snippets (1)

• Letters to the Editor

• Kenwood & Hampstead

• Chantry Park Attractions

• Heritage Open Days

• Church Help Needed

• Traffic Solutions

• Aged 10 in 100 Body

• Snippets (2)

• Ipswich Partnership

• Culture in Ipswich

• Art School for Technology

• New Listed Buildings

• Committee & Many Events 


Editorial: Two Big Issues

This Newsletter contains the Society's responses to several important planning applications, but 

there's little doubt that the two biggest and most pressing Issues are the proposals for the Cranfield's 

Mill developments and the Council's forthcoming consultations about the future of arts and 

entertainments in Ipswich. At the time of writing (mid-June) it isn't clear how the political changes 

on the Borough Council will affect the Corn Exchange and Regent but, as I see it, the principles 

which I write about below remain the same. 


Cranfield's and the multi-uses of the Waterfront  

Pages 6-7 convey some of the Society's views about the Cranfield's development. I hope members 

will find this interesting even though I quote only parts of our very detailed response to this hugely 

ambitious scheme. The Society's long-held hope is that many mixed uses of these locations will 

produce a sustainable future for the Waterfront, which the prospective university premises will help 

to underpin. And the more people who live or work or enjoy themselves on the Waterfront the more 

it could link up with the town centre. There is still a danger that we could have two separate 

communities, and it's true that during the last few decades the docks did become more isolated. 

(Rather like my experience in Gloucester where I lived for 18 months in the 1950s and didn't even 

know the docks existed. I believe you couldn't make that mistake in Gloucester now.) However, this 

perception of the isolation of the Waterfront is gradually diminishing. But, can Ipswich ever have a 

fully joined up Town Centre / Waterfront while the Star Lane traffic says, "Not while I'm in the 

way”? 


Arts and entertainment  

My first hope is that the Borough Council's "consultation" means consultation. The Chief 

Executive, James Hehir, proudly refers to 300,000 people living within our immediate catchment 

area of some 15 miles - and that number is increasing quite fast. Such a conurbation surely needs 

the two different and complementary venues of the Com Exchange and the Regent. It is indeed a 

crying shame that these venues are financially subsidised by only about one-sixth of that vast 

population. But for this very reason, Ipswich Borough Council should be devoting most of its 

energies to increasing its funding by making more time available and applying for grants, private 

funding, donors, creating trusts - anything rather than finding reasons for irrevocable closures or 

redistribution of resources. I say redistributions because one of the most simplistic current mantra is 

"spend money on people rather than on bricks and mortar". The bricks and mortar are essential if 

many of the people's activities are to continue. 


A possible relocation of Ipswich Film Theatre is already being pursued quite separately, the earlier 

hope of moving to the Cranfield's site having been thwarted. If the Film Theatre does move, that 

could have either of two opposite implications for the Corn Exchange. It could free up the Corn 

Exchange, especially the Robert Cross Hall, for more frequent and possibly more lucrative uses, 

which at present can't often happen because of noise leakage into the Film Theatre. On the other 

hand, it could reduce the amount of opposition to closure of the Corn Exchange - which, in my 

opinion, would be short-sighted and very damaging. 


Disposing of the Corn Exchange would represent the loss of a centrally located, transport accessible 

community facility, serving it is said some 80 organisations which regularly use it, a facility which 

could never be replaced, even if the Council's income increases as the population increases and 

even if local government were to be radically reorganised. 


So, my final hopes are that the Council will think long-term, take its time, and seek every possible 

means of obtaining external, extra funding for both our main arts venues to flourish. 


But whatever views you hold as individual members of the Society, please consider conveying them 

to the Borough Council when public consultation begins. 


I shall be very pleased to receive your contributions to the next Newsletter by 20 August. 

NEIL SALMON 16 Warrington Road, Ipswich, IPI 3QU 


Members' Social Evening

Garrett Memorial Hall, St Margaret's Church Centre, 1 April 2004  


John Norman must really enjoy watching people puzzle over his superb photos of little comers of 

Ipswich - doors, roof-lines, sculptures. Why otherwise would such a busy man make so much time 

to explore the by-ways of our town with his camera? But there's no doubt his time is well spent. 

Members of the Society who come along to our social evenings clearly enjoy the challenge - and, 

more importantly, enjoy discussing the photos and places with others! 


On this occasion, John had also provided a large set of photographs of architectural and other 

details from the wider county. These also evoked a lot of interest. And we were able to have a close 

look at models of the three architects' proposals for a foot bridge/cycle bridge across the dock. You 

may remember that the January Newsletter contained photographs of these models. 

But the evening was essentially an informal one with time and space to chat, with some good food 

and drink, and Ron Vaughan's piano accompaniment. We hope to provide more opportunities for 

social gatherings in the future. 


The slight disappointment was that only a few of the many newer members came along. Your 

committee is considering what else we could do to involve new members. We realise that many of 

you are quite happy to support the Society just by joining and receiving the Newsletter - and that's 

understandable. But there may be others who would like to do a little more and are not being given 

the right openings. 


Chairman on Current Affairs

Summer is with us once again! As I write we learn that May has been one of the driest for many 

years - will the summer produce serious droughts? 


Last month saw the AGM held again at Suffolk College and sponsored by the College. There was a 

good turnout and the evening was a great success with the usual superb catering by the College. (I 

overheard one person remark that he came mainly for the food and drink!) The speaker was John 

Lyall, the architect of the development at Cranfield's Mill on the Waterfront. There was so much 

interest and so many questions that we were somewhat late in finishing, and I'm afraid we kept the 

catering students beyond their finishing time. We hope to do better next year. 


A massive scheme for the Waterfront  

The proposals for Cranfield's Mill are, of course, a major development, and after prolonged 

discussion the Society's position has been made clear in our letter to the planners. (See the separate 

report in this Newsletter.) We strongly support the concept, the mixed uses, the open spaces and the 

wonderful new home for Dance East. We do, however, have reservations about the height of the 

main block. Although we realise that such a development depends critically upon the economics of 

it all, we do feel that further consideration should be given to the maximum height. What I am quite 

certain of is that when the scheme is finally built it will be a wonderful addition to our Waterfront 

and we shall be proud of it. 


Also last month IBC held a prestigious meeting at the football ground about how it is tackling its 

housing needs. In the afternoon there was the opportunity to visit Ravenswood on the site of the old 

airport. In the morning there had been much discussion of the Government's policy on "affordable 

housing". I am still unsure that I have a clear definition of this, despite the speakers' efforts. It seems 

to me to be a purely relative term - housing which costs less than more prestigious developments 

and usually built by a housing association, perhaps on a partowned or gradually-owned basis. If one 

looks at the problem the other way round, however, and take a person on a salary of, say, £20,000 

p.a. (the rate of very many people, particularly those in the public service), mortgage companies 

used to loan up to 3x annual income, which would be £60,000. Current prices of "affordable 

houses" are vastly more expensive than this. 


Progress at Ravenswood  

With this in mind I was most pleased to go on a tour of the Ravenswood scheme with John 

Stebbings, who is the Council's liaison man with the development, and the senior person with the 

firm doing the development. Whilst we were on the visit, I had in mind the possible development at 

Westerfield which will be about the same size. Ravenswood has both private and "affordable" 

housing - the latter built by a housing association - and I was very interested to see how the two 

kinds of properties compared and co-existed. The housing association chose to use the same builder, 

which certainly helped, and it was fascinating to see one part of the development where the two 

kinds of properties were separated and one part where they were intermingled. It was most 

gratifying to find that in many cases it was impossible to tell which was which. 


Learning from Ravenswood  

More generally, the layouts and finishes were pleasingly varied and there is a very welcome system 

of dealing with waste water in the development. Although The Ipswich Society objected strongly to 

the closure of the airport before an alternative site was found, I have to say that I was pleasantly 

surprised at the high standards of the Ravenswood scheme. If we come to develop the Westerfield 

site there are many ideas that should be copied and hopefully improved on. One decision which was 

made at an early stage and would certainly apply to Westerfield is to lay out the bus routes before 

building begins, so the prospective owners and tenants could see where the routes would run. I 

would hope all of you who have not visited Ravenswood would do so. If there was demand we 

might even arrange a Society trip .... What do you think? 


Tidying up our roads  

At the AGM we asked for ideas about activities and campaigns. One idea is that the Society should 

have a campaign against street clutter - mainly road signs. The Committee is very keen on this and 

is considering such a campaign, initially in the town centre. Other towns have been very successful 

in such schemes. It would require carefully noting and photographing such signs as evidence to the 

appropriate body. 


On a personal note, I have been so concerned at the recent spate of white paint on our roads that I 

have made enquiries at Borough and County level and discovered that they are not (as I feared) at 

the behest of Central Government but are purely home-grown! I have in mind particularly the rash 

of double broken white lines up the centre of roads with hatching between them. On right turns the 

point at which you should move to the centre is rigorously marked with more hatching. When I 

discussed this with the local official and suggested his paint budget was too generous, he remarked 

politely that I could always ignore them (which I usually do). It was very interesting, after this 

exchange, to learn that elsewhere, too, there are campaigns to rid our roads of all this clutter - some 

recent research claims to show that less clutter of this soil reduces accidents! 


Let me finish by welcoming summer weather and hoping it is kind for our river trip on 13 July 

when I hope to meet many of you again. 

JACK CHAPMAN 


Convenient Bus Stops

Ipswich now has three Park and Ride routes operating from terminals established close to 

interchange points on the eastern and western by-pass A12/A14 roads. The Martlesham service 

makes intermediate stops at Ipswich Hospital, providing visitors with an alternative to parking on 

the hospital site, and also at St Helen's Church to serve staff and students at Suffolk College. 


On reaching the centre of town the buses make a circuit of the main shopping and business areas 

with stopping places at frequent intervals, at each of which passengers can either alight or board for 

the return journey. The locations of these stops are: 


• Museum Street/ Westgate Street

• Friars Street/ Queen Street

• Old Cattle Market/ St Stephen's Lane

• Upper Brook Street/ Butter Market

• and either Northgate Street/ Central Library (Bury Road and London Road services)

• or Great Colman Street/ Northgate Street (Martlesham service).


The London Road P & R service has additional stops at Princes Street/ Greyfriars to serve the local 

business area and the football ground. The Bury Road service has an additional stop at St Matthew's 

Street/ Berners Street. 


Many of the town bus services and those from rural areas use all or part of the same town centre 

gyratory system so that passengers can choose where to get on or off depending on which part of 

the town centre they are visiting. Previously most passengers had to go to Tower Ramparts terminus 

whether or not it was convenient. This considerable convenience for passengers is beginning to be 

more widely known and appreciated. 

RUSSELL NUNN 


Ambitions for Cranfields

The sheer scale and importance of these proposals mean that the Society has responded at some 

length. We feel sure that members will be interested to see quite a lot of what we've said. 

"The Ipswich Society would like to congratulate the architect and developer, and IBC's planning 

officers, EEDA, the Arts Council and CABE in producing and shaping such an exciting and 

comprehensive set of proposals for the Waterfront .... It is not our intention to compromise the 

commercial viability of the scheme, rather to constructively suggest what is, and in our considered 

opinion, what is not acceptable in Ipswich. The proposed development is in a Conservation Area, 

will have an impact on Listed buildings including St Mary at Quay Church and should therefore 

have sympathy with its neighbours, particularly in terms of height, scale and massing.” 


We then make brief comments on the two areas north of Key Street, those around St Mary at Quay 

Church. One would include a public open space at the east end of the church. The other area, further 

east, could include a hotel where we would be concerned about car parking. We also express 

concerns about pedestrian access to the Waterfront from these two areas. 


Going on to the proposals for the main Cranfield's Mill site, we say: 

"The Ipswich Society is impressed with the quality and variety of materials proposed and the mixed 

uses planned. We particularly like the piazza and the opportunity afforded to businesses to face both 

externally on to the Waterfront and internally on to the square ... The retention of the colonnades is 

to be applauded and they will provide a focal point for lunchtime and evening activity ... We don't 

agree with the retention of the railway tracks. They are a health and safety hazard ... and in our 

opinion are nostalgia taken too far. 


"The architect is keen to allow vehicles along the quayside, suggesting that they bring people, light 

and movement, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. The Ipswich Society takes a different 

stance and believes it is very important to reduce vehicles on the quayside, limiting access for 

deliveries during the working day. This will allow a cafe culture to develop with alfresco dining, 

particularly under the colonnades The architect is proposing some modern and novel materials for 

the apartments fronting the piazza and after some discussion we applaud his choice… 


"We are opposed to a 23 storey tower, and have further concerns about the scale of the 17 and 14 

storey supporting structures in Foundry Lane. We feel that for this context a maximum height close 

to that of the existing silos is appropriate. Even if the proposed heights are reduced the fenestration 

is unsatisfactory and we would like to see alternative proposals ... Members have expressed to us 

spontaneously similar views in unequivocal terms. Previously several applications for buildings 

taller than the existing silos have been refused, including proposals for Paul's burnt-out maltings 

site, and the initial proposals for the Burton's site. We accept that each application should be 

reviewed on its merits and that the Waterfront can accept tall buildings, particularly adjacent to 

open water but believe that this proposal is too high. It should also be noted that the tower is not 

adjacent to an open aspect, rather the narrow neck of water at the extreme western end of the dock. 

"It is important to consider the impact of the proposed heights from viewpoints in other parts of the 

town, from where the tower will draw the eye ... There is a certain ambience of the treelined horizon 

viewed from almost anywhere in Ipswich, and existing buildings, with very few exceptions, do not 

break the skyline, a townscape scale we can live with and live in. 


"Wharfeside's proposals will create a massive development that has the potential to truly link the 

town centre and Waterfront ... In principle the scheme should progress. However, some of the 

details, and in particular the height of the taller buildings, need modification.” 


Major Planning Matters

Anglesea Road/Ivry Street, erection of 3-4 storey preparatory school  

"The Society is delighted to see these entirely new plans for the Prep School on a new site; we feel 

that this is a much better solution than trying to expand Victonian houses in Henley Road. Overall 

we are impressed with the design of the new buildings We are, however, concerned by the relative 

anonymity of the main entrance in Ivry Street. It is a sound architectural axiom that a fine building 

has an obvious entrance. On the other hand, the glass tower containing the staircase is over-

emphasised and has the best views. We would like to see fresh thought given to this aspect of the 

design."

151 St Helen's Street, erection of 14 flats  

"The proposal to replace the attractive 1930s garage, a two storey building with strong horizontals, 

with an interrupted three storied apartment block with pitched roofs is particularly badly thought out 

.... There is a failure to turn the comer into Palmerston Road and the elevation presented to St 

Helen's Street is unacceptable. This proposal should be refused on grounds of a design quality that 

is too poor for one of the main entrances to the town from the east." 

16-20 Stoke Street, convert vacant retail premises into 12 flats/maisonettes  

"These so-called plans should be rejected; there is no clear thought to the site layout and they are 

attempting to squeeze a quart into a pint pot on this site. They should give more care to regeneration 

in the area ... and that approach would prove more profitable as well as being more aesthetically 

satisfactory in the long run." 

Bramford Lane, change of use from allotments (part) to public open space  

"It is appreciated that a full consultation exercise has been carried out with local residents ... 

Provided representations of the residents are fully met - support." 

Yarmouth Road, TA Centre, erection of 4 blocks of flats between 4 and 5 storeys high  

"We have inspected the fresh application; ... access from Yarmouth Road, the provision of pathway 

and cycle track and the elevations have been improved. We now feel that planning permission 

should be granted, subject of course to the Council's officers' approval of details." 

Crown Pools: new pay & display car park on existing lawn  

"This scheme simply increases car parking spaces ... There is a massive multi-storey car park 

adjacent that is more than adequate for those who choose not to use sustainable transport into the 

centre of town. The lawn contributes to the open space aspect that is important to the setting of this 

fine building .... The Ipswich Society recommend refusal." 

Former Christchurch Hospital: 37 residential apartments  

"The scheme has merit ... The division into separate units has been designed with 

sympathy ..removal of portico and intrusive windows is to be applauded but further alterations to 

recent additions would be beneficial. In particular there is an opportunity to restore symmetry in 

number 61. [We]would welcome more trees on the front boundary even if this results in a loss of a 

car parking space .."

31 Stoke Street: 6 dwellings  

"The Ipswich Society notes the considerable improvements made to the proposals but suggests it is 

still over-development of this site ... We are disappointed that the indicative elevations are twee and 

that there is no reasonable allowance for car parking..." 

Spring Road former reservoir site: 24 residential apartments in 3 storey block  

"This application is premature. What is required for the area of under-developed land north and 

south of Spring Road (mainly allotments) is planning guidance. We understand the Outline 

Permission was for 8 houses. This development for 24 units is considerably more demanding in 

terms of car parking, vehicle movements..." 

Ipswich Co-operative, Carr Street: new entrance doors to no.36, new fascia rear elevation nos.

38-68  

"[We] are disappointed by the aesthetic quality of work currently being carried out to the Carr Street 

elevation, in particular the automatic doors on the curved frontage at the junction of Cox Lane and 

Carr Street ... Although we accept that the rear elevation to Co-operative House is not as important 

as, or of similar quality to the front, these buildings form an important feature in the street scene, 

particularly the 1884 drapery store." 

13 St Nicholas Street: alterations to form restaurant, & external alterations  

"Bland, boring, featureless and typical of a national chain applying minimal standards to every 

restaurant they open ... [We] are particularly concerned with the street scene and the outlets from air 

conditioning and cooker extraction units ... [We] recommend that if approved there is a condition 

attached that prevents storage of wheeled bins in the adjacent lane." 

Neptune Marina, car park south side of Coprolite Street  

"This application appears to be for a hot food take-away, totally inappropriate and undesirable in 

this location. Whilst we are sure responsible boat owners will respect their environment, evidence 

suggests others do not, and this type of establishment generates noise, litter and the scattering of 

food waste which in turn attracts pests. We accept that the application is for a quality establishment 

but the business could be transferred to other styles of fast food take- away. Approval could set a 

precedent for other take-away outlets on the quaysides." 

Neptune Marina Ltd, operational car parking on Orwell Quay  

"Permission if granted must be on the strict requirement of limited time, and permission now should 

not be taken as permission for further 'operational requirements' (the restaurant under construction 

will, for example, require extensive car parking). 

18 Badgers Bank, felling of sweet chestnut tree  

"The Ipswich Society does not usually comment on tree preservation orders but we could not gather 

the rationale for the removal of this fine tree ... [We] recommend refusal." 

Henley Road, telecommunications tower and base station  

"The mast will be out of place because of the open aspect ... Masts of this type are better concealed 

on existing towers, aerials or tall buildings." [113C has refused permission.] 

The outcome of previous planning applications 

Co-op Bank, Princes Street alterations and moving ATM (April Newsletter). IBC refused 

application which would "seriously detract from the character and appearance of this well detailed 

neo-classical building in the central conservation area." 

Burton's site, College Street proposed car park (in April Newsletter). Application withdrawn. 

St Nicholas Church, convert into diocesan resource centre. IBC has approved conditionally. 

Burton's site, St Peter's Dock/Foundry Lane, 198 flats, commercial uses and car parking. IBC 

approved but no demolition until archaeological work done. 

St Helen's Street/Woodbridge Road/Orchard Street, 36 houses and flats. The Society criticised 

unimaginative design. IBC refused permission because "the design is of inappropriate standard for 

this prominent location adjacent to a conservation area and Listed buildings. 

Art School for Technology

The School of Art in High Street, just above the Museum, was opened in 1934 with rooms around a 

two-story octagon with open balcony. An extension was planned but never built; on the north side 

you can see the concrete lintels in the blank wall and the toothing courses of brickwork on the 

comers. The whole complex has stood empty since 1997, having been replaced by the new School 

of Art and Design built on the main Suffolk College campus. 


However, work is proceeding which will see some of the building back in educational use by the 

start of the academic year. Suffolk College with university partner UEA has won a bid for a New 

Technology Institute, one of 19 in the country. The facilities being created here will be the hub of 

the Suffolk Institute of Technology, with branches elsewhere in the county. 


The Institute will provide a range of opportunities to develop computer skills, including Learn 

Direct, foundation degrees and an innovation lab where high-flyers can develop new systems, 

software and communication techniques. The octagon is being renovated to form an ideas exchange 

where staff and students can explore new technologies. Suffolk College is currently exploring 

further use of the building with neighbours and partners. 


New Listed Buildings

It is very pleasing to know that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has 

acknowledged the importance of two more Ipswich buildings. The Church of St Mary at Stoke has 

been re-classified from Grade II to Grade I. The Department's very detailed Schedule refers to it as 

"A fine 14th-15th century church with an outstanding hammerbeam roof in the north aisle (formerly 

the nave). The 19th century rebuilding is mostly by Butterfield and there are good fittings and 

stained glass." St Mary at Stoke therefore joins St Margaret's and the Unitarian Meeting House as 

Grade I religious buildings in Ipswich. 


In addition the DCMS has Listed for the first time as Grade II No. 121 London Road. This is 

described as "a little-altered small Regency villa which retains original fenestration and many finely 

detailed interior features." The Schedule points out that this area, known as "Mile End", was laid 

out in the early 19th century as a small isolated development of 16 houses on what was then the 

main London road, and the house is marked on the first available map, of 1847.

Issue 156 July 2004

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