As a major regional centre, Ipswich has managed to secure many millions of pounds from the East of England Development Agency for recreational, residential and business development.
Close to both the town centre and Waterfront quarters, and linking the railway station with the heart of Ipswich, Ipswich Village is one area of the town that has really benefited from this type of funding, enabling developments and changes which have improved the standard of life for those who live and work there.
In just a few years, the Village quarter has been transformed. It is now a great place for business with giants AXA, BT and Suffolk Life working alongside Ipswich Borough Council, Suffolk County Council and the Crown Courts. All of these new civic buildings have been carefully designed in order to be low maintenance, but also highly functional and environmentally friendly.
In keeping with these green credentials, plans are under way to make the Alderman Canal and the River Gipping more accessible, opening up the National Cycle Route 51, which runs along the banks of the river. In addition, the community sport and play facilities on the village green have been upgraded so the open green spaces and nature reserve are now available for all to enjoy.
One area of the Village benefited from a 'Shared Space' scheme, which greatly improved the surroundings. Street furniture and markings were removed, footpaths widened and substantial lighting improvements have been made, opening up the entrance to Alderman Park with a specially designed piece of artwork.
Portman Road is home to Ipswich Town Football Club, jewel in the crown of Ipswich's excellent sporting facilities. This family club is proud of their flourishing community development programme and is strongly involved with the business community of Ipswich.
The Village has also become a great place to live. With privately owned character houses, affordable housing, new build properties and even an old cigar factory converted to stylish apartments, there is a great variety of housing available. The substantial residential and commercial Fairview development currently taking place along Ranelagh Road is helping to renew an old industrial site, and when completed the new footbridge spanning the river will provide the new homes with a direct route to town, leading through the centre of the Village.
The EEDA funded project to relocate a high voltage electricity cable from beneath the Ipswich Village car park will further enable development in this quarter. The land to be brought forward for development will be marketed for residential development, a car park and commercial space, which will complement the other developments already taking place.