Ipswich Borough Council formally lodges plans for £1.4m pedestrianisation of Lloyds Avenue

Plans to pedestrianise an Ipswich town centre street have taken a major step forward.

Ipswich Borough Council has formally lodged plans for the £1.4 million redevelopment of Lloyds Avenue.

In July, the authority’s executive agreed on funding to add green spaces, expand footpaths and partially pedestrianise Lloyds Avenue, as well as Major’s Corner.

It forms part of a wider scheme to create a ‘green’ route between Ipswich town centre and the waterfront.

Under the plans, the existing arch at the end of Lloyds Avenue would be refurbished and vehicle access would be cut off about halfway down.

In addition, the number of taxi rank muster points would be reduced from 21 to 10, phone booths would be removed and trees would be planted.

Planning documents also detail extra lighting, cables, digital screens, security cameras and a radio transmitter.

A public consultation ran from August to September last year and saw support from local businesses.

These included Unex, which owns the former Debenhams, which felt it could help fill the large unit which has lain vacant since 2021 and the Three Wise Monkeys, which hoped the space would generate more footfall – and could be used for live events.

Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central Business Improvement District, also told SuffolkNews of his support for the plans.

The proposals will go before planners soon.