IPSWICH School has submitted detailed proposals for a new sports park on land to the west of Tuddenham Road, it was revealed today.
IPSWICH School has submitted detailed proposals for a new sports park on land to the west of Tuddenham Road, it was revealed today.
At the same time, the independent school has submitted plans for outline permission to re-develop their existing sports fields, to the north of Valley Road, for housing and other community facilities.
Karl Daniels, chairman of governors at Ipswich School, said: “Our proposals seek to dramatically improve the availability of top quality sporting facilities in Ipswich.
“We are submitting two applications - a detailed proposal for the sports park and an outline proposal for 320 homes on land to the north of Valley Road.
“We are grateful to all those who attended our public consultation events on the two applications - a number of changes have been made in response to the feedback we received.”
The sports park proposals, if approved, would see the creation of a new sporting focal point for Ipswich that would include:
A sports hall providing ten badminton courts, two basketball courts, two indoor hockey pitches, two tennis courts, two netball courts, climbing wall and cricket nets
A pavilion building with full changing, viewing and clubroom facilities
Two water-based and one sand-dressed hockey pitch
Six adult and three junior grass rugby pitches
Three adult and four mini grass football pitches
Four match quality cricket squares and 12 practice cricket nets
18 tennis and six netball courts
Six rounders diamonds
A cross county jogging track
The scheme has been subject to pre-application consultation, both with the surrounding community and officers from Ipswich Council.
More than 300 people attended the four exhibition days held at Ipswich School's Preparatory School in January.
Ipswich Borough Council will now consult on the plans before the proposals are put before the Planning Committee for a decision. A decision is likely to be made in June or July this year.
Will you welcome the new sports park? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here