Why it matters: The council acquired the freehold of the site in January 2014 and it remained in use until 2023, but has since stood empty whilst costing up to £50,000 annually in maintenance and security. The decision to sell follows the council leader's promise in September to present an options appraisal to councillors before the end of 2025.
The details: The council says it has carefully considered the options for retention of the site and has now instructed a property agent to manage the sale.
The building offers over 21,000 square feet of accommodation across basement, ground, and first floors, with 22 car parking spaces. The site was originally constructed in the 1960s as part of the Civic Centre Complex development.
It served as the Crown Court until 2004, when the new Crown Court on Russell Road opened.
What they're saying: Cllr Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said the council was seeking to secure the best consideration for the site.
"Ensuring there is ongoing use of the former Crown Court supports our vision for a thriving town centre," he said. "By marketing the site for sale, we can ensure all options are considered that will lead to this site being of long-term benefit to the town centre."
The bigger picture: The council says the decision supports its Property Asset Management Strategy and Corporate Strategy: Proud of Ipswich, delivering on priorities for a thriving town centre by removing a deteriorating asset and enabling future development, and for a financially sustainable council by generating a capital receipt and reducing ongoing liabilities.
For context: In September, Cllr MacDonald announced an options appraisal would be presented to councillors before the end of 2025 after being questioned by Lib Dem councillor Inga Lockington about the ongoing costs of the empty building. The building has had a troubled recent history, suffering a small fire on the ground floor in March 2024.
The bottom line: The "exciting options" appear to be off the table, with the council instead opting for an open market sale to bring the site back into use and reduce the financial burden of maintaining an empty building.
