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# Upper Orwell Street North car park to close from next week
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/upper-orwell-street-north-car-park-to-close-for-school-development/
- Published: 2024-09-27T13:27:11.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:34:21.000Z
- Description: The car park will be closed from 30 September to make way for the construction of the new Central Ipswich Free School.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Town Centre & Waterfront, Primary Education, #article, Ipswich Borough Council, Central Ipswich Free School, #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**Why it matters:** The closure will result in 52 fewer parking spaces in the town centre but will allow the demolition of the former Co-op department store on Carr Street and the construction of a new primary school to begin in October.

![Car park behind the Co-op building](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1727443583-old-co-op-rear.jpg)

The car park is located immediately behind the old Co-op building Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams (Ipswich.co.uk)

**The big picture:**

- The Department for Education has requested that the entire car park be used as a contractor's compound and safety area for the demolition.
- Ipswich Borough Council will lease the site to the DfE for an initial 2-year term from 1 October 2024.
- The council says rental income will compensate for lost parking revenue.

![Coop ‘Harvest’ Mosaic by Gyula Bajó & Endre Hevezi in 1963-64](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1726574657-coop-mosaic-1.jpg)

Plans were delayed due to concerns about preserving a historical mural but new plans approved in May 2024 will allow the mural to remain in place Photo: Oliver Rouane-Williams (Ipswich.co.uk)

**The bottom line:** Construction is set to begin in October. While the car park closure may inconvenience some and reduce town centre parking, it paves the way for a much-needed new school in central Ipswich.

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