Felixstowe: Spa Pavilion could be demolished to make way for new attraction

DEVELOPERS may be given the go-ahead to demolish Felixstowe’s Spa Pavilion and replace it with a new attraction.

Councillors are ruling nothing out – except converting it to housing and offices – as they step up their search for a solution to the venue’s future.

Members of Suffolk Coastal’s cabinet reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the Spa or its site for use as a tourist or cultural centre for the resort, a place of entertainment both for residents and visitors.

Cabinet agreed to re-market the building from this September and this time to take a far more flexible approach in dealing with companies or other organisations which may be interested in the venue.

Councillors were told the previous marketing process had been useful but too restrictive with the authority unable to enter into negotiations with interested parties to discuss their ideas and advise them.

Cabinet member for leisure and economic development, Geoff Holdcroft said: “We propose to be more flexible in our approach so that when people are interested we can talk to them and negotiate with them, and we will be taking that forward from September.

“We have spent a long time primarily trying to market the Spa as a theatre and we have seen the result, but it may still be that a proposal that comes forward includes a theatre. We need to open this up though and be prepared to look at a number of different uses – even another building on the site – if that would hopefully be attractive for Felixstowe, an all-day, all-year-round venue.”

Council leader Ray Herring said: “I don’t think we should be closing anything off. Whether it’s a local solution or a larger commercial solution that could include redevelopment, both might support the economic regeneration of Felixstowe.”