A major conference aimed at pushing ahead with dramatic changes to Ipswich town centre is to be held at the end of this month.

The Ipswich Vision conference at UCS will highlight the proposals to bring the town centre into the 21st century, link up the historic retail heart with the Waterfront and other significant areas, and give businesses the chance to say how they want to see the town develop.

The Ipswich Vision has been drawn up by seven partners, co-ordinated by the Business Investment District (BID) company Ipswich Central.

At its heart is the proposal to shift the axis of the town from east-west (St Matthews Street to Majors Corner) to north-south (Christchurch Park to the Waterfront).

It includes major investment at the Cornhill and the work already under way to rebuild the town’s Tower Ramparts and Buttermarket shopping centres.

It also aims to see some parts of the town centre, including the former Civic Centre site and part of the Cox Lane car park, turned into residential areas with high-quality townhouses encouraging people to return to the concept of living in the heart of the town.

Among the speakers at the conference will be Ipswich MP Ben Gummer and our editor Terry Hunt.

Ipswich Central chief executive Paul Clement said: “The conference give the partners in the Vision the opportunity to outline what it is all about and, just as important, it will enable businesses to give their ideas and to ask questions.”

Mr Gummer added: “This is a very, very important event for the town – it gives us the chance to explain our plans to businesses who might not be fully aware of what is planned in the town.”