Retail and Commercial Leisure Study

Retail Position Update Statement 2019

WYG Planning were commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council to provide a Retail Position Update Statement. The Statement represents an addendum to the October 2017 Retail and Commercial Leisure Town Centre Study and should be read alongside the 2017 Study. This Update Statement together with the 2017 Study was used to inform the Council’s Local Plan Review 2018-2036. 

Retail and Commercial Leisure Study 2017

WYG Planning was commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council and the former Suffolk Coastal District Council portion of East Suffolk to undertake a Joint Retail and Commercial Leisure Town Centre Study for the Council areas. The key purpose of this study was to act as the evidence base to assist in the formulation of development plan policy, as well as providing baseline information to assist in the determination of planning applications for retail and leisure development. The Study supersedes the previous retail and leisure studies completed on behalf of the Councils’ namely the Ipswich Retail and Commercial Leisure Study 2010 and Appraisal of Ipswich Town Centre Opportunity Areas 2013.

The Study was used to inform the aligned Local Plan Reviews for the two authorities. The key purpose of the study was to: provide evidence for the review of growth strategies to take account of retail and leisure relationships and change in retail and leisure provision and demand; and inform town centre strategies and future investment plans. The study explores retail and commercial leisure need over the plan period to 2036 and provides an up to date review of the performance of the town centres in the Council areas.

The Study includes consideration of the following:

  • Identification of quantitative and qualitative retail requirements for the towns;
  • Identification of quantitative and qualitative commercial leisure requirements for the towns;
  • Identification of the scale and nature of new hotel development required to meet future business and leisure tourism needs;
  • An assessment of the nature, scale, vitality and viability of district centres within Ipswich;
  • An analysis and review of out-of-centre retail and leisure provision;
  • An analysis of the retail and leisure relationships within Ipswich and the former Suffolk Coastal areas of East Suffolk; and
  • The provision of recommendations in relation to addressing potential retail, commercial leisure and hospitality requirements.

The Retail and Commercial Leisure Study 2017 is available to view below:

Retail and Commercial Leisure Study 2010 (Superseded)

Strategic Perspectives were commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council in 2010 to prepare a Borough-wide retail and commercial leisure needs assessment.

The main report and appendices are available to download: