WATERFRONT residents living near the proposed site of the landmark £20m University Campus Suffolk (UCS) building today accused project bosses of failing to listen to their concerns about the development.

WATERFRONT residents living near the proposed site of the landmark £20m University Campus Suffolk (UCS) building today accused project bosses of failing to listen to their concerns about the development.

Apartment-owners at Ipswich's Neptune Marina believe the eight-storey contemporary curved glass structure is too tall and much too close to their block in Coprolite Street.

They also believe Coprolite Street, the only access road, is too narrow to cope with the arrival of delivery vehicles.

They claim that these issues were raised with UCS chiefs at a public meeting in June, but no substantial amendments have been made to the planning application which is due to be submitted in a fortnight.

Resident Andrew Bough said the group were fully behind the drive to bring a university to Ipswich, but not at the expense of those already living at the waterfront.

He said: “None of us are opposed to the university, it's about the way the building proposals have not taken into account the feelings of the residents.

“We want the uni, it's fantastic and we're 100 per cent behind it. But this development will be too high and too close to our building. It's unfair.”

There will be a bigger space between the university building and the residential development on the opposite side at Neptune Square, with developers hoping to create an open public space.

However, the Neptune Marina residents want the development shifted further away from their homes and into this area to prevent them from losing their views across the marina.

Fellow resident Terry Gentleman added: “All we want is the same views we have at the moment. I think there will be a lot of formal objections when the plans are submitted.”

There are 113 apartments in Neptune Marina, 39 of which have balconies facing the proposed site.

The 30 metre high 10,500sq m building will include study areas and UCS student support services along with public space for exhibitions and displays.

Neil Jackson, UCS capital programme manager, said: “A critical part of the development is to create an open public space for the benefit of all. It will also be the first pedestrian link to the waterfront.

“We are confident the application will go through. We have worked closely with the planning department and spent a lot of time and effort trying to take in everybody's views.”

If the planning application is successful, the building should be open for the second intake of students in September 2008.

n. Do you think the building is too big? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Weblink: www.ucs.ac.uk