Council reveals 'exciting' £5m plan to revive 'proper landmark' Paul's Silo

Why it matters: The appointment moves the council forward with plans for new homes, shops and leisure space overlooking Ipswich's marina, on a site the authority has spent a decade trying to bring back into use.

The details: Drees & Sommer has been appointed as multi-disciplinary consultant, and has in turn contracted Capital&Centric as developer.

• Plans will retain and repurpose the 35-metre Paul's Silo and the former Burtons building, and redevelop the St Peter's Dock car park site.
• New homes, workspace, hospitality and leisure uses are planned, alongside a communal green space at the heart of the site.
• Capital&Centric has previously transformed historic buildings into mixed-use neighbourhoods in Manchester, Sheffield, Stockport, Stoke-on-Trent and Gateshead.

For context: A plan to turn Paul's Silo into a leisure attraction with a rooftop restaurant was marketed extensively before being deemed unviable in 2024 – a process that cost the council almost £1.4m. A separate 2020 plan for an arts and media hub at the Burtons building also fell through, owing to the pandemic and changes in viability.

The big picture: The council has owned the three sites since between 2015 and 2018, but previous plans to develop them separately have collapsed. Any scheme that emerges will still need to secure planning consent before development can begin.

What they're saying: Councillor Neil MacDonald, leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "This is a great moment for Ipswich's waterfront, and the whole area, as part of our ambition for a thriving town. I am really pleased that we will be in partnership with a team of experts who will carefully consider both the waterfront's rich heritage and the vision of its future, invigorating a part of the town that people will want to move to and enjoy, overlooking the water."

Martin Crews, development director at Capital&Centric, said: "Paul's Silo is one of those buildings that stops you in your tracks. It's a proper landmark with huge potential, and we're excited to be working with Ipswich Borough Council and Drees and Sommer to bring it back to life."

Mike Soffe, from Drees & Sommer, said: "We are excited to be working with Ipswich Borough Council and Capital&Centric to bring forward such an exciting regeneration project which will have a huge impact on the Ipswich waterfront."

By the numbers: A £5m budget covers the scheme up to planning consent – £4.5m from the council, plus £500,000 from Suffolk Public Sector Leaders' business rate pooling funds. Any further costs to build the scheme will need a separate agreement.

Councillor Michael Hadwen, leader of Suffolk County Council, said: "I'm delighted to be able to sign off the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders funding contribution to this exciting project, which will complete the regeneration of the western gateway to Ipswich waterfront and serve to facilitate improved visibility of the historic Wolsey's Gate."

The bottom line: With a development partner now in place, the council is one step closer to regenerating three of the town's most prominent empty sites and reinventing the waterfront's western gateway.

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