Why it matters: Ipswich Borough Council's executive approved the investment on Tuesday, 10 February, as part of an agreement with the mystery tenant who will repurpose the building. The council says the investment is part of its drive to bring more people to Ipswich and increase the amount of time they spend in the town.
The details: The council did not specify the exact building or its location at the meeting. Councillor Neil MacDonald, Ipswich's leader, said that details about the building and the nature of the project had to be kept confidential.
However, he said he was confident the new project would make a difference in the town centre. "I think the use that is coming will be welcomed by people in the town," he said.
For context: The money will come from the Government's £25 million Towns Fund allocation, awarded to Ipswich in 2021, to boost economic productivity and support growth. The council set aside around £10 million from the fund to spend on empty buildings where applicants have come forward with projects.
One such project was the acquisition and refurbishment of the former Grimwades building, on the Cornhill, which sat empty for more than a decade before the council bought it early last year.
Last July, it reopened as Jamaica Blue café, with Lovisa, a jewellery and accessories retailer, also set to move in at some point early this year.
By the numbers: After this investment, the council still has just over £3 million left over to allocate to other projects, some of which are set to be assessed early this year. It is known that one such project is the potential regeneration of the Great White Horse Hotel, which local property developer John Howard and his business partner want to bring back into use as a 4-star boutique hotel.
The bottom line: The council has ruled out another café, but the identity of the tenant and the exact nature of what the building will house remain a mystery for now. More to follow.
