Former Woolworths transformation to bring £450k investment to Ipswich
A £450,000 package of infrastructure investment will accompany the conversion of the former Woolworths building into 60 flats, following approval from Ipswich Borough Council's planning and development committee yesterday.
Why it matters: The development will transform a long-vacant and run-down building in a prominent town centre location, delivering much-needed housing while retaining the ground-floor retail unit that is currently let out to the Ipswich Bazaar Superstore.
By the numbers: The conversion will create:
- 32 one-bedroom apartments
- 25 two-bedroom apartments
- Three three-bedroom apartments
- 136 secure cycle parking spaces
- Zero car parking spaces, but includes car club provision
The details: The proposal by Carr Street Development includes:
- Private outdoor space for each flat through terraces, inset balconies or roof gardens
- Communal rooftop gardens accessible to all residents
- A new entrance from Cox Lane
- Light and dark grey brickwork additions
- Zinc-clad third-floor roof structure with biodiverse green roof
- Retention of the existing Ipswich Bazaar store at ground level
For context: The upper floors have been vacant since Woolworths closed in December 2008. The site forms part of the wider Mint Quarter development area and is allocated for residential use in the Local Plan.
Between the lines: No affordable housing is required due to the development being predominantly flats on a brownfield site and the scheme will generate infrastructure contributions for the coucil, including:
- £155,934 for primary education
- £59,878 for secondary and sixth-form education
- £130,608 for early years provision
- £34,987 for highway improvements
- £34,550 for NHS services
- £12,960 for libraries
- £8,400 for waste improvements
- £8,536.20 for recreational disturbance avoidance and mitigation
What they're saying: Planning officers wrote that while some garden and amenity spaces do not meet recommended standards, "this is due to the constraints of the site, and its depth to facilitate a high-density development. The spaces will still provide usable external spaces to future occupiers, and the communal gardens will be available for use by all future residents."
What's next: The development can now proceed subject to conditions and completion of legal agreements securing infrastructure contributions.
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