IPSWICH is to get a major jobs boost after a new cash and carry warehouse was granted the go-head.The warehouse, earmarked for the Ransomes Europark Estate, is set to create almost 150 new jobs.

IPSWICH is to get a major jobs boost after a new cash and carry warehouse was granted the go-head.

The warehouse, earmarked for the Ransomes Europark Estate, is set to create almost 150 new jobs.

It was one of two major projects approved by Ipswich Borough Council's development and control committee.

Councillors also gave the green light to enable Ravenswood's new "village green" – a key phase in the development.

Bellway Homes was granted permission to build 121 homes in an arc around the former terminal building.

The development includes 74 individual homes and 51 flats – and the total includes 15 "affordable" homes.

It is a key phase in the whole estate, which will eventually include 1,000 new homes.

Meanwhile, the new cash and carry warehouse, which should be open for trade business only, would employ 144 full-time staff.

It will be operated by Makro Self-Service Wholesalers Ltd and the building would have a total floor area of 10,430 square metres.

The application was also for 424 parking spaces.

Chief planning officer Mike Smith had earlier said there would be no objections in principle to the application – but the authority was seeking assurances about the nature of the business.

"We need to be sure that it is a wholesale, rather than retail, operation – and we need to know what action the company takes to enforce that," he had said.

"But providing we can get those assurances, there would be no objection to the proposal – that land is earmarked for employment use."

Makro is a German-based wholesale cash and carry business with its British base in Manchester.

It supplies food and non food items to independent stores, caterers and other retail outlets.

Its stores are not open to the general public – only those with a special photocard can shop there.