Have your say on future of former Debenhams site
Ipswich residents and businesses are being asked to share their ideas for the future of Waterloo House, the former Debenhams building, after Ipswich Borough Council completed its purchase of the long-vacant site.
Why it matters: The building has stood empty for five years, and its future is seen as crucial to the wider regeneration of the Cornhill and Ipswich town centre.
The details: Ipswich Borough Council completed its acquisition of Waterloo House earlier this month for around £4m, funded entirely by £5,274,500 from the Government's Local Regeneration Fund, formerly known as the Towns Fund. Demolition has been awarded to Handford Homes, the council's wholly-owned commercial property arm, with a budget of £1.2m.
Have your say: Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has launched a survey inviting residents and businesses to submit their ideas for the site.
- Responses will be brought together into a report that he will present to the council, so that local views form part of the conversation about the building's future.
- The survey can be accessed on Jack Abbott's website: jackabbott.org/waterloo-house-survey
Oliver Rouane-Williams
What they're saying: Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, said: "The former Debenhams building has stood empty for too long. I know how frustrated people feel about the situation, a frustration I share.
"The Cornhill should be somewhere people want to spend time, to shop, eat, meet friends and enjoy everything our town has to offer. It should be a place that makes people proud of Ipswich, not a reminder of what our town centre has lost.
"We now have a real opportunity to give this important site a new future. The aim cannot simply be to replace an empty building – we must create a vibrant, sustainable and attractive destination in the heart of our town that supports the future growth and prosperity of Ipswich.
"I am asking residents, businesses and everyone who works, studies or spends time in Ipswich to share their ideas. Together, we can build a town centre that Ipswich can be proud of."
What's next: The council intends to run a developer-led design competition rather than a conventional architectural one, inviting full development teams – including architects, planners, cost consultants and funders – to submit proposals covering design, funding, planning and delivery. The council has said the successful bidder will be judged not simply on design quality, but on whether the scheme is financially viable and deliverable.
The development is expected to be mixed use, combining commercial and residential space, with the Grade II listed Lloyds Arch, spanning Lloyds Avenue, retained.
The bottom line: With Waterloo House now set for demolition, residents are being asked to say what they think should replace it.
Oliver Rouane-Williams
Don't forget: If you enjoy our content, please add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google so you can easily find more of the content you value.
This article cost us ~£27 to produce
It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.
Below the line