Opinions sought on major regeneration

MEMBERS of the public are invited to view proposals for a multi-million pound regeneration project in Ipswich town centre.

The exhibitions, taking place next Friday and Saturday, mark the start of a public consultation over the redevelopment of the former B&Q store in Grafton Way.

Among the ambitious plans for the site are a Tesco superstore, two hotels, 675 short-stay shopper car parking spaces, sporting and leisure facilities, a mixture of restaurants and smaller shops along the riverfront and new apartments overlooking the river.

The entrances will be located along Grafton Way to strengthen links to the town centre and Cardinal Park opposite.

Planning permission has not yet been sought.

A spokesman for Spenhill Regeneration, a subsidiary of Tesco which is leading the project, said the firm is keen to bring benefits to the town centre.

He said: “This is a chance for the public to see the development and let us know what they think.”

The site was closed in September 2006 and has remained vacant since then. Spenhill bought the site earlier this year.

If the project gets the go-ahead, it could provide hundreds of new jobs in the town.

The spokesman said that the scheme would have “a very high quality architectural and design standard, picking up the influences from the river and the heritage of the town”.

He added that it would be set in “a high-quality pedestrian riverside environment with public spaces, quality pedestrian links towards the town centre, excellent street furniture and new hard and soft landscaping along Grafton Way”.

The exhibition will be at the player suite of Ipswich Town Football Club on Friday, between 10am and 6pm, and Saturday, between 10am and 4pm.

More developments planned for Ipswich - see page 25.

What do you think of the proposals for this site? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk