People from Ipswich and across east Suffolk can have their say on how the town should develop over the next 20 years later this month.

Ipswich Star: Carole Jones, Planning portfolio-holder. Picture: SU ANDERSON.Carole Jones, Planning portfolio-holder. Picture: SU ANDERSON.

The number of homes in the town is expected to increase by more than 11,000 between 2014 and 2036 as the population of Ipswich increases by more than 13,000.

Now a new Local Plan for Ipswich is being prepared alongside a new Local Plan for Suffolk Coastal – which envisages major growth in the greater Ipswich area, in places like Kesgrave, Rushmere and the Felixstowe peninsula.

As an early stage in preparing the plan, residents and people who use Ipswich as a regional centre have the chance to comment on the proposals until the end of next month.

Exhibitions explaining the issues will be held in the Pickwick Room at the Town Hall between 11am and 3pm on Saturday, September 30 and Tuesday October 3.

The Local Plan includes the new Upper Orwell Crossings which are due to be opened in the early 2020s and the possibility of a northern by-pass, or relief road, as part of the northern fringe development.

Carole Jones, Planning & Development portfolio-holder, said: “This is really important for our town and the people who live and work here. We are looking at finding room for 11,400 homes and creating 19,000 jobs. It is also important that the public have their say – planning policy is not dull; it’s vital!”

The consultation documents are on the Council’s website www.ipswich.gov.uk/currentconsultations, at the Customer Services Centre in the Town Hall, Ipswich libraries and at the Council’s offices at Grafton House, Russell Road.

Planning officers will also be available to answer questions at the Ipswich Area Committee meetings during September – details can be found at www.ipswich.gov.uk/content/area-committees-explained

Comments must be returned to the Council by 11.45pm on Monday October 30.

The Local Plan process will then be discussed again by the borough council and examined in full before it is finally adopted.

Suffolk Coastal is going through a similar process at the same time so issues to the east of the town centre can be considered together – especially controversial plans for a new town at Martlesham Heath.