At Home With Clay attraction to come to Ipswich Waterfront

Ipswich Borough Council had received official plans from Baylight Properties, the new owners of the Waterfront House, in February, which are now recommended for approval ahead of a planning meeting next Wednesday. 

The proposal is to create a new visitor-based attraction called 'At Home With Clay' which celebrates the "ordinary and extraordinary clay objects we use in our homes".

Plans show that on the ground floor there would be a foyer, with a workshop space and an atrium on the first floor.

The second floor will have a large exhibition space and a free creation area, with further exhibition spaces on the fourth and fifth floor.

In a pre-meeting report, council officers said: "The site is in a sustainable location and no objection has been raised by consultees.

"The proposed development would represent positive urban regeneration, returning a disused building into a publicly accessible building for a creative use.

"It is a significant redevelopment of a key building in the Waterfront."

The plans had received support previously (Image: Kate Wolstenholme) The council's conservation and design panel has also written to the council to say that they were in support of the plans.

In their statement, the panel said: "The project’s success could be further enhanced by incorporating historical storytelling and functional maritime elements, ensuring it becomes not just an architectural statement but a meaningful landmark for Ipswich."

They were also complimentary of how the proposal connects to Ipswich's maritime history and brings in lanterns that pay tribute to those on St. Mary-at-the-Quay Church, which once guided boats in the dark.

The plans had seen similar praise from Ipswich Society previously, which had some issues with the design but was in favour of the project. 

Crispin Kelly, chief executive of Baylight Properties, said previously: "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."