Ipswich Borough Council
Notice of Intention to Commence Local Plan Preparation
Date of Publication: 25 June 2026
In accordance with Regulation 19 (‘Notice of intention to commence local plan preparation’) of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, Ipswich Borough Council gives notice of its intention to commence preparation of a new Local Plan for the administrative area of Ipswich Borough.
Title of the Local Plan
The plan will be known as the Ipswich Borough Council Local Plan 2026 - 2045.
The Minerals and Waste Local Plan for Suffolk will not form part of the Ipswich Local Plan 2026 - 2045 and will continue to be prepared separately by Suffolk County Council.
Geographic Area Covered by the Ipswich Borough Council Local Plan 2026 - 2045
The Local Plan will cover the administrative area of Ipswich Borough Council. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) code for this area is E07000202. The area is shown on the map below.
Local Plan Timetable
The Council has published a Local Plan Timetable which sets out the anticipated stages and timescales for preparation of the Local Plan, including opportunities for community and stakeholder engagement.
The Local Plan Timetable can be viewed directly at: www.ipswich.gov.uk/NewLocalPlanTimetable
Copies of the Local Plan Timetable and Notice of intention to commence Local Plan preparation are also available for inspection at:
- Ipswich Borough Council, Grafton House, 15–17 Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DE (Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm);
- Ipswich County Library, Northgate Street, Ipswich, IP1 3DE (; and
- Suffolk County Council, Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX.
Please check opening hours with the relevant venue before visiting.
Paper copies of the timetable and notice to commence are available on request from Ipswich Borough Council.
The Council intends to formally commence the 30-month plan preparation process through the publication of its Gateway 1 Self-Assessment by 31 October 2026.
Purpose of the Local Plan
The Ipswich Borough Council Local Plan 2026 - 2045 will be a comprehensive Local Plan covering the period 01.04.2026 - 31.03.2045, replacing the existing Ipswich Local Plan Review 2018-2036 (March 2022).
The purpose of the Local Plan is to establish a vision, objectives, spatial strategy, site allocations and planning policies to guide the future growth and development of Ipswich to 2045.
Further Information and Participation
Further information on the preparation of the Local Plan, including opportunities to participate in consultation and engagement activities, will be made available on the Council’s website: www.ipswich.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/new-ipswich-local-plan
If you would like to be notified of future consultations, engagement opportunities and updates relating to the new Local Plan, please register online via the Ipswich Local Plan Consultation Portal at https://ipswich.oc2.uk/register/ or scan the QR code:
Alternatively, you can contact the Planning Policy Team by:
Email: planningpolicy@ipswich.gov.uk
Or write to:
Planning Policy Team
Ipswich Borough Council
Grafton House
15–17 Russell Road
Ipswich
IP1 2DE
Download a PDF of the Local Plan Notice of Commencement