Plans for 18 new flats and 21 new homes in Ipswich given go-ahead

Plans for the former Argos unit in Ipswich town centre to be converted into 18 flats have been given the go-ahead as plans for 21 homes on the old hockey pitch at Ipswich Sports Club were also signed off.

Proposals were lodged by HD Investments 18 (Ipswich) Ltd to convert a part of the ground floor and the second and third floors into homes, made up of one two-bed and 17 one-bedroom flats.

None of the homes is designated affordable because it is the redevelopment of a brownfield site, and all the homes are flats.

Some of the ground floor will remain for retail use, it has been confirmed.

Original plans for 21 homes had proved to be unviable, according to developers, prompting plans to be revised down to 18 homes.

Concerns had been raised at Ipswich Borough Council’s development control committee meeting on Wednesday morning over accessibility, as no flats were on the ground floor and no lift is planned.

Cllr Oliver Holmes said it “on the face of it means people with mobility issues, disabled persons and elderly persons, may not be able to access those floors. We have a statutory duty to consider these points.”

Cllr Sam Murray added: “If there is space here and it is possible [to add a lift] I really think we should push this.”

A further condition was added to enhance accessibility measures, but didn’t make a lift mandatory.

The committee voted by seven votes to five in favour of approval with the added condition.

Pamela Longhurst-Pierce, planning consultant on behalf of the developers, said: “The site is an existing three-storey building with ground floor commercial space which is currently vacant and has been for a long time. Therefore this site is in urgent need of regeneration.

“This application is of significant merit, namely a mixed use scheme which represents inward investment in the town which will help bring a long-standing vacant unit back into beneficial use.

“The scheme will provide additional homes within Ipswich, which is targeted for growth in the local plan.

“The proposal embodies Ipswich’s 15-minute town concept for city centre living to ensure people have around them all they need to live their lives locally.

“The proposal will enable a prominent local building within the town centre to be re-used.”

Ward councillor John Cook said: “Planning applications of this type which are going to bring back buildings into sensible use, which are clearly not going to be occupied to the same extent in the past for retail use, is highly desirable.”

The plans include a £20,508 contribution to primary school provision, £34,536 towards a pre-school and £10,000 public open space commitment.

Meanwhile, plans for 21 homes on the old hockey pitch at Ipswich Sports Club have been given the green light by councillors.

Ipswich Borough Council gave unanimous approval on Wednesday morning for the land off Henley Road to be developed, with three homes designated as affordable.

The 0.9-hectare site development will upgrade the existing access off Henley Road, and feature three two-bedroom, 10 three-bedroom, six four-bedroom and two five-bedroom homes.

A previous application for 28 homes was approved in September 2018, and development did commence with the access road, but will be superseded by the new application.

A footpath link to Henley Road is to be created as well as 16 additional car park spaces on the existing car park.

Cllr Peter Gardiner said: “I am supportive of this scheme and, while the original one had a bit more imagination in terms of design and layout, I think this one does the best it can.”

Cllr Carole Jones added: “I welcome this application. It’s very well designed and brings homes, including three affordable homes, with solar panels which is unusual in private developments.”

Developers Colwyn Property and Land Ltd have been approached for comment, but in their application said: “The development is being carried out by a local developer who is an ISC club member, so the development remains a collaborative scheme designed to compliment the overall site and support the ongoing use of the rest of the site as a vibrant community facility, which will remain and encourage healthy active lives through sport.”

It added: “The sports club will continue to operate as it currently does and plans for major refurbishment and expansion of facilities with the benefit of funds released by the sale of the pitch site.”

The planning report said that enhanced hockey facilities had been provided at Ipswich Hockey Club in Tuddenham Road to mitigate the loss of land.

Financial contributions include more than £80,000 for public open space, £102,540 for primary school provision and more than £120,000 for secondary schools.