Plans have been submitted to overhaul the restaurant fronts in Cardinal Park to create an outside dining terrace – but at the expense of 28 car park spaces.

Ipswich Star: Cardinal Park. Picture: SAM DAWESCardinal Park. Picture: SAM DAWES

A planning application was submitted by Legal & General Assurance Society Ltd to Ipswich Borough Council on December 22, proposing to extend the paved section outside the front of the restaurants to give each establishment a dedicated outdoor dining area.

The plans propose to pave over the existing car park spaces in front of the restaurants, meaning that 28 car park spaces will be lost.

But developers believe it will create a more “pedestrian friendly environment”.

Will Edwards, senior fund manager at Legal & General, said: “Legal & General has submitted a planning application to significantly improve the restaurant terrace at Cardinal Park.

“The proposed works will complement Cineworld’s recent refurbishment of the cinema and will give a new visual identity to the main restaurant parade, creating a vibrant destination for our customers to enjoy.”

The area proposing to be developed currently includes seven disabled spaces, but development bosses have said that six of those will be reallocated to existing standard spaces.

The plans are currently in the consultation phase, and due to go before planners from February 16.

It is understood the restaurants are all in favour of the development, which will allow them to increase the number of diners they serve at peak times during the summer months, when an outdoor terrace is likely to be used most.

It follows recent development at Cineworld in which Starbucks moved from upstairs to a downstairs portion where it could have some space outside the front of the cinema.

The plans said that a “comprehensive new lighting scheme” would be introduced, and added that the “current leisure terrace has a tired and dated appearance that would benefit from a new, refreshed and more modern appearance.”

A transport statement over the loss of 28 car park spaces prepared by Vectos has concluded that the loss of spaces will have an “acceptable impact” on the surrounding area.

Bollards will also be erected to prevent any vehicles accessing the terrace.