Why it matters: The decision commits the council to developing a comprehensive plan for an area that offers significant housing potential but faces infrastructure challenges, particularly around traffic flow on already strained road networks.
The big picture: The South Ravenswood area sits immediately south of the existing Ravenswood neighbourhood, which was developed between 1999 and 2018 on the former Ipswich Airfield. Ravenswood now has around 1,300 homes, a primary school and a district centre, and is widely recognised for its distinctive design and successful planning.
The council owns four of the five plots and hopes to replicate Ravenswood's success with a comprehensive approach that addresses infrastructure, character and environmental challenges before development proceeds.
What they're saying: Cllr Carole Jones, the council's portfolio holder for planning and museums, said the housing-led plan was clearly the way to go for the council and would be hugely advantageous in the future.
"It gives us the opportunity to investigate the site properly, assess its potential and draw up indicative plans," she said.
Cllr Neil MacDonald, the council's leader, acknowledged traffic concerns that have been raised by residents, saying he was well aware of issues in the area, having to drive up those roads regularly.
"The masterplan will come up with some other ideas that will hopefully alleviate some of the issues in that area," he said.
The details: The work will examine how to best develop the site for housing whilst addressing ongoing traffic issues to avoid severe impacts on the roads.
Officers said the private landowner would be consulted, but did not confirm whether conversations were already ongoing.
The approach will address considerations including highway junction capacity and environmental factors such as the presence of protected species in the area.
By the numbers: The council will use existing budgets to draw up initial concepts and visualisations, but will need to invest around £500,000 in the future for more detailed designs.
The authority is hoping to bring a consultant in to do the work by the end of the year. Budget estimates for the appointment of the consultant have been kept confidential.
For context: The initiative directly supports Ipswich Borough Council's Corporate Strategy priority to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable homes. By planning carefully for future needs, the council aims to create new opportunities for residents whilst enhancing the overall sustainability and functionality of the area.
The masterplan process will be shaped by landowners and the community, ensuring local knowledge and expertise guide decisions on issues such as traffic flow, the historic environment and the provision of high-quality open spaces.
The bottom line: Despite acknowledging legitimate traffic concerns in the area, Ipswich Borough Council is pressing ahead with plans to develop land south of Ravenswood, betting that a comprehensive masterplan approach can solve infrastructure challenges whilst delivering much-needed homes for the town.
