Ipswich Borough Council is delighted that proposals have been approved for a new interactive digital sculpture in Ipswich town centre.
As the UK’s first Portal, this will create real-time live visual connections between Ipswich and international locations. Planning permission was granted for the sculpture to be put in place on the Cornhill for five years, where it will become a focal point for locals and tourists alike - bringing a window of the world to Ipswich, and Ipswich to the world.
A rotating live stream will link to other Portals already operating in Dublin, Philadelphia, Vilnius in Lithuania, and Lublin in Poland, with future locations planned in Brazil, Asia, and the Middle East. Each Portal around the world can take a look at Ipswich, as viewers on the Cornhill will be able to see people and places in different countries.
The scheme is part of the Digital Ipswich project to invest £2.34 million of Towns Deal funding from the Government into digital place-making, using innovations to modernise Ipswich’s town centre with interactive, vibrant, and inclusive experiences. These also include a series of augmented reality trails, digital billboards and contemporary, high-tech art installations.
Digital Ipswich has an exclusive arrangement with the Portals organisation. which, through a network of connected sculptures in public city spaces, aims to bring people of different cultures together and ‘build a bridge to a united planet’. The Ipswich Portal location was chosen to maximise visibility and interaction, and to capture a field of view framing the Town Hall and the former Post Office building (now occupied by The Botanist). As two listed buildings of historic and architectural interest, these landmarks are considered to reflect both Ipswich’s heritage and its cultural vibrancy.
Design and detailing of the Portal is intended to complement the Cornhill’s role as a key civic, cultural and events space, by providing a focal point that enhances engagement, footfall, and interactivity.
Commenting on Ipswich Borough Council’s Planning & Development Committee decision, Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of the Council, says:
“We’re delighted with this opportunity to showcase our ambition for Ipswich as a pioneering digital town, and proud to be the first place in the UK with a Portal that brings live connection to global communities. It signifies a bold step in our town’s strategy to rejuvenate the town centre, attract new visitors, support local businesses, and promote Ipswich as a place of culture, connectivity, and global relevance.
“This exciting Digital Ipswich project has been the subject of extensive consultation, and its scale, materials and location carefully considered.
“The Portal is to be 100% funded by the Towns Fund – a UK Government grant awarded to help towns like Ipswich thrive.
“We’re aware of how much of an asset the Portal in Dublin has been, with over one million people visiting the area within the six months of its installation. Our Digital Ipswich team are working closely with Dublin City Council to share good practice so similar benefits can be realised for Ipswich.
“We believe this project will provide good public value, facilitating a fully accessible experience to interact with the technology, a draw to attract residents and visitors into the town centre, and a cutting-edge facility to promote the town globally as a great place to live, work, invest in, and visit.”
Work to install the Portal is scheduled to start in September 2025 with the launch of the new attraction planned for October 2025.