2025 has been a year of fantastic progress and achievement for Ipswich Borough Council and I am immensely proud of everyone for playing their part to make our borough a thriving and inclusive one.
Together, we have achieved so much—delivering projects that make a real difference to residents, businesses, and visitors alike, while laying strong foundations for an even brighter future.
Our town centre continues to go from strength to strength. We have seen the installation of the UK’s first ever Portal, the historic Grimwades building reopened as a new café, we hosted homegrown global talent at Ed Sheeran concerts and Fanzone experiences and welcomed people to the internationally renowned celebration of arts, culture, and performance at the Spill Festival. New bars and restaurants opened their doors, major refurbishments took place at the Regent Theatre and at Ipswich Museum, improved bus services were launched across the borough, as well as 30 events being hosted on the Cornhill alone and 1,700 attendees at the Business Thrive Festival – our profile and identity as a vibrant destination continues to expand – leaving us very well placed to explore a bid for the 2029 City of Culture title.
Providing safe, quality homes remains at the heart of what we do. This year, we delivered over 270 new homes across Bibb Way, Ravenswood, and Fore Hamlet, we’ve improved thousands of properties—installing A-rated boilers, new roofs, kitchens, and bathrooms—while reducing re-let times and tackling issues like damp and mould head-on. Our tenant satisfaction is among the best nationally, and initiatives like the tenant census and community days have strengthened relationships and improved services. Planning permission for over 1,100 new homes shows our determination to meet demand and continue supporting resident needs. Private developments such as the Merchants Yard will bring over 170 new homes set within landscaped green spaces and will uplift the local area.
We continue to lead the way on sustainability. With 83% of our vehicle fleet now ultra-low or zero-emission and the first electric refuse collection vehicle in operation, we’re reducing our carbon footprint. Tree planting, solar PV installations, and energy efficiency improvements are all part of our journey to becoming carbon neutral. Every new build now includes EV charging and renewable energy features, ensuring we build for the future.
Our parks, museums, and cultural events have brought joy to thousands—from weddings at the Town Hall to Anglo-Saxon Discovery Day at Christchurch Mansion. We’ve supported families through holiday programmes, delivered vital health and safety education to 1,200 pupils, and launched initiatives like the Community Chest and Resilience Fund to help those most in need.
Campaigns like This Is Our Town have fostered pride and responsibility, while partnerships with local organisations have ensured support for vulnerable residents. Together, we’ve made Ipswich a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive place to live.
Despite challenges, we remain financially resilient. We’ve delivered savings, modernised services, and achieved record recycling quality scores. Our parks retained Green Flag status, and our fraud prevention work protected over £1.8m of public funds. With improved digital services and increased engagement on social media, allowing us to connect better than ever before with our communities.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our staff, partners, and community. Thank you for your hard work, creativity, and commitment. As we move into 2026, we will continue to build on these successes—delivering regeneration, housing, sustainability, and services that make Ipswich a great place to live, work, and visit.
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year.
Cllr Neil MacDonald