LESS housing and more leisure are promised today in a multi-million pound maritime park to redevelop 17 acres of prime seafront land.Debate has been raging for 20 years over what should be built on the derelict south seafront to regenerate Felixstowe, with several schemes having failed or been rejected.

LESS housing and more leisure are promised today in a multi-million pound maritime park to redevelop 17 acres of prime seafront land.

Debate has been raging for 20 years over what should be built on the derelict south seafront to regenerate Felixstowe, with several schemes having failed or been rejected.

Now Suffolk Coastal and their partners Bloor Homes have unveiled new proposals for the site between Orford Road and Manor Terrace.

The scheme will include more leisure and green space, a bigger and better choice of play equipment, refreshment kiosk, modern toilets, and more than 260 parking spaces.

Previous proposals for an amphitheatre have been dropped, as it appears has the wooden galleon, but the Herman de Stern will still be demolished because it to “too expensive” to renovate and re-use.

Bloor will be building 158 homes, 51 fewer than previously proposed, of which 16 will be social housing. Less than one-third of the site will now be used for residential purposes.

Cabinet member Rae Leighton said: “This application has been drawn up following months of careful analysis of the responses and feedback the council had from a large number of people from a very wide area during the two years of in-depth consultation that resulted in an unsuccessful attempt to gain planning permission.

“These amended proposals specifically and positively address the areas of concern that remained from the previous scheme.

“They also include a commitment by Bloor Homes to pay for the repair and refurbishment of the Martello Tower in a much more open area than first planned.”

Play equipment for all ages will include an adventure trail, multi-play slides and climbing rocks for juniors and toddlers, an infant play area including see-saws and springing items, plus a more adventurous 'spacenet' for more active play, and an eight pad water splash feature.

Special permission has been gained to remove unsightly garages next to the Martello Tower and for an archaeological examination of its historic moat. The cold war bunker will be preserved.

What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk