Why it matters: The project – funded through the Government's Local Regeneration Fund – aims to create a more welcoming entrance to the town centre for residents, businesses and visitors along one of Ipswich's busiest routes.
The details: The works will see the rusted and damaged railings on both the St Matthews Street and Civic Drive roundabouts fully replaced, alongside 20 new lamp columns across the central reservations. Four of the new columns at St Matthews Street will be planted to support greening of the area.
Brickwork along the central reservations – running from St Matthews Street to Hyde Park Corner, and from St Matthews Street to the Wolsey Theatre roundabout – will also be repaired and replanted with bulbs to create seasonal flowering, which the council says will support local biodiversity.
What they're saying: Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said: "We have started to see real signs of progress in Ipswich over the past 18 months, and these improvements to St Matthews Street and Civic Drive are another good step forwards as we work to revive our town and restore a sense of pride in our local area.
"Investing in better lighting, new railings and greener planting will improve how this key gateway into the town centre looks and feels for residents, visitors and businesses."
Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, added: "Replacing the railings and lamp columns will significantly improve this area as both pedestrians and vehicles pass through. Improving the planted areas delivers environmental benefits by supporting birds, insects and other wildlife, enhancing ecological value in the area."
The bigger picture: The St Matthews Street and Civic Drive project is one of several funded through the Local Regeneration Fund, formerly known as the Towns Fund. Other projects already delivered or under way include the transformation of the former Grimwades building, which now houses Jamaica Blue café and fashion jewellery brand Lovisa. A £1.92m project to convert the former St Matthew's Baths into a Creative Digital Skills Lab is also under way.
For context: The Towns Fund is the government scheme under which this project was originally awarded and has since been consolidated into the Local Regeneration Fund, a single flexible funding pot that brings together several previous schemes. Local authorities now have greater freedom to move money between projects and make decisions locally without needing prior approval from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Councils have until the end of March 2028 to spend their allocation.
The bottom line: Ipswich Borough Council says the regeneration fund is already delivering visible change across the town, with the St Matthews Street and Civic Drive improvements the latest in a series of projects aimed at boosting the town centre's appeal and supporting local businesses.
