AN IMPRESSIVE eight-storey block of flats for around 180 students has been given the thumbs up by town chiefs.The building, which would be built off Duke Street in Ipswich, near the Waterfront's Orwell Quay development, has been earmarked to help meet student housing needs in the town.
AN IMPRESSIVE eight-storey block of flats for around 180 students has been given the thumbs up by town chiefs.
The building, which would be built off Duke Street in Ipswich, near the Waterfront's Orwell Quay development, has been earmarked to help meet student housing needs in the town.
At a meeting of Ipswich Borough Council's planning and development committee on Wednesday councillors approved the proposals subject to conditions.
These include the Environment Agency dropping concerns about the risk of flooding at the site.
Jeremy Hancock, agent for developers Magelan Ltd, said that even though the university owns a lot of land near the Waterfront it will need help from the private sector to meet demand.
Estimates suggest housing for around 2,750 students will be needed by 2015 as the town's university expands.
Mr Hancock said: “We are very pleased that the council has seen that this is a realistic development and will be very important for the university.
“They described it as quite an adventurous scheme and really were for it.
“Once we have resolved the remaining issues hopefully we can move forward.
“We would like to get this under way in the next couple of months. “Every moment is important to us because we want it to be ready for the 2009 intake of students.”
As well as providing accommodation for more than 180 students, a bar earmarked for the ground floor would measure 3,000 sq ft with a capacity for 200-300 people and the building could potentially be a venue for the university's student union.
The building will also contain office space and room for shops.
The site is currently occupied by Premier Pool.
Will an influx of students boost the Ipswich economy? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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