Ipswich Borough Council adopted its Town Centre and Waterfront Public Realm Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on 24 July 2019.

Ipswich has an inheritance of historic buildings and public parks appropriate to its role as Suffolk’s county town. Equally significant is the urban public realm, the network of streets, squares and churchyards which are the most familiar parts of the town to residents, businesses and visitors. Ipswich has the added distinction of possessing the most complete early Anglo Saxon streetscape in England, including the waterfront area.

Investing in the public realm is an investment in placemaking, business and community. Improving the spaces used for shopping, recreation and other aspects of daily life is a cost effective way to support local businesses and improve the quality of life for residents, and to make the town function better, make it more welcoming for visitors and more attractive as a heritage and recreational destination.

• Ipswich Town Cente and Waterfront Public Realm SPD

The Ipswich Town Centre and Waterfront Public Realm Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) provides design guidance for the renewal of Ipswich town centre’s public spaces, including the waterfront quays and green spaces within the central area, mostly churchyards (the study does not include the main urban parks, such as Christchurch or Holywells).

It sets out three objectives for public realm improvements

• Improving connectivity between key places
• Improving legibility and permeability
• Creating a coherent identity for the town centre and its character areas

40 projects are described which will deliver the objectives. The potential for improvement in each case is illustrated with plans and photographs. In addition, two area-wide projects are identified, a local nodes project and cultural trails project. Generic design guidance is provided for the study area, covering categories such as street tree planting, paving specification and lighting design. Project delivery and the importance of stakeholder engagement are included, and appendices of the SPD provide additional guidance on design and highways maintenance / management issues.

Previous Consultation

The Council undertook a public consultation from 16 January 2019 for six weeks until 27 February 2019. The Consultation Statement in the list of Adoption Documents below summarises the consultation that was undertaken during the preparation of the SPD, the comments received and the Council's responses, including any modifications made to the SPD.

Inspection of Adoption Documents

The SPD and documents that support it are available to view below:

• Ipswich Town Cente and Waterfront Public Realm SPD
• Consultation Statement
• Adoption Statement (Dated 9th August 2019)
• SEA Screening report
• Suffolk Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) Guidance and Habitat Assessment (HRA) Record

You can also view these documents at the following locations:

• Town Hall, Cornhill, Ipswich, IP1 1DH (Mon to Sat 10am to 4pm);
• Ipswich County Library, Northgate Street, Ipswich, IP1 3DE (Mon, Weds, Thurs 9am to 6pm; Tues, Fri 9am to 7pm; Saturdays 8.30am to 5pm and Sundays 10am to 4pm); and
• Grafton House Reception, 15-17 Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DE (Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm) – by appointment only (see arrangements below)*.

 *To view the documents at the Council’s Offices, Grafton House, please call 01473 432019 or email planningpolicy@ipswich.gov.uk to arrange viewing.

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