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# Planning for derelict Wherstead Road site to be converted into flats approved
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/planning-for-derelict-wherstead-road-site-to-be-converted-into-flats-approved/
- Published: 2024-08-22T14:05:04.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:37:09.000Z
- Description: Ipswich Borough Council has unanimously approved plans to transform a long-abandoned office building on Wherstead Road into 24 flats.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Housing & Urban Development, Planning & Licensing, #article, Ipswich Borough Council, #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**The big picture:** The site at 240 Wherstead Road, which has been vacant for 20 years, will be redeveloped as a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments after revised plans address initial concerns from residents and council departments.

![240 Wherstead Road](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1724335394-240-wherstead-road-1.png)

The site at 240 Wherstead Road has been vacant for 20 years (Google Maps)

**By the numbers:**

- 24 flats approved, down from 32 in the original proposal
- Mix of 14 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units
- 27 car parking spaces and 56 cycle parking spaces included

**Key details:**

- The development will convert and extend the existing three-storey building, adding a fourth floor.
- The applicant has committed to improving the surrounding area, including widening the footway, enhancing the nearby underpass, and upgrading street lighting.
- Financial contributions totalling over £200,000 will be made towards local education, libraries, waste management, and public open spaces.

**Between the lines:** The approval comes after multiple revisions to the original plans, which faced objections from residents and some council departments.

- Concerns included increased traffic, loss of privacy for neighbours, and potential impacts on local wildlife.
- The developer reduced the number of flats and made design changes to address these issues.

**What they're saying:** "The proposal is considered to be acceptable in terms of the principle of residential development on this site," the planning committee report stated.

**The bottom line:** This development aims to rejuvenate a derelict and disused site while providing new affordable housing in the town.

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