Historic Ipswich Waterfront House sold ahead of revamp plans

Baylight Properties has bought the iconic Waterfront House in Wherry Quay and hopes to bring forth a project titled 'At Home with Clay' as it revamps the site.  

The intention is to use the granary storage site built by R. & W. Paul to pay homage to clay crafts by having several exhibition spaces and some domestic spaces. 

Read More: The history of Ipswich's Waterfront House remembered

The plans show that they would aim to reuse some of the silos left in the building so that the Paul family's legacy lives on. 

Waterfront House dates back to the 18th century  (Image: Kate Wolstenholme) Crispin Kelly, chief executive of Baylight Properties,  said: "Waterfront House was originally a fine Victorian warehouse and is a key element of Ipswich's historic quayside.

"Although converted to offices in the 1980s, it has been standing empty since the most recent occupier vacated in 2023."

Mr Kelly had consulted about the firm's plans with the property in January and hopes to submit a formal proposal to Ipswich Borough Council soon.

The property group hopes that once approved, it can open the building to the public by spring 2028.

Consultations on the plans were held last month  (Image: Shikhar Talwar) Mr Kelly added: "We are planning to turn it into a visitor attraction, which is going to celebrate the ordinary and extraordinary things that we have at home that are made of clay.

"There are going to be a series of spaces, some of which will be domestic in nature and some will double or triple the height kind of exhibition spaces. 

"There will be a combination of objects that you can hold and play with visual and audio entertainment and other amazing stuff."

Legal firm Ashtons used the building from 2005 to 2023 before moving to a building in Portman Road, and ever since Waterfront House has been vacant. 

Ipswich Central had backed the plans by Baylight Properties - hoping it would bring additional footfall to the Waterfront.