AMBITIOUS proposals to transform the Waterfront and Ipswich Village area are expected to be given the green light tomorrow .Members of Ipswich council's executive committee are expected to back the Area Action Plan drawn up by a independent planning consultant.

AMBITIOUS proposals to transform the Waterfront and Ipswich Village area are expected to be given the green light tomorrow .

Members of Ipswich council's executive committee are expected to back the Area Action Plan drawn up by a independent planning consultant.

The plan was commissioned by a consortium including the borough council, Suffolk County Council, and the East of England Development Agency.

As revealed in The Evening Star last month, one of the key proposals is the construction of new bridges across the River Orwell to help integrate the areas with the town centre and the railway station.

It is a very long-term vision – looking to 2016 and beyond – but it foresees the creation of a new waterfront university, new parks being developed, and a major expansion of Cardinal Park with new homes for up to 15,000 people near the river all the way from the wet dock to West End Road.

It also calls for a fresh look at roads in the area, and says a new road from the west bank of the Orwell across the New Cut and wet dock lock gates needs to be considered.

The plan acknowledges that transport issues are crucial to the area, but backs proposals to turn Star Lane into a two-way street and closing Key Street, Salthouse Street, and College Street to general traffic.

It foresees major developments in the Cardinal Park area with extensions to the Ipswich shopping centre to both the east (the Mint Quarter) and west of the existing central area.

Most of the proposals have overwhelming public support according to surveys carried out as part of the process.

However the public is split on the proposal to convert Star Lane into a two-way street – only 51 per cent of those questioned backed the move.

The borough council executive is expected to back the document at its meeting tomorrow. Assuming it is also backed by Suffolk County Council, the full proposal is due to be published in January.

It will then be considered as part of the Ipswich Local Plan which is due to go to a public inquiry during the summer.