Comment

Representation ID: 24659

Received: 16/10/2017

Respondent: Alice Martin

Thought needs to be paid to the huge number of empty retail units on Duke St/Stoke Quay development conducted within the past 10. Duke Street already has a Tesco's, a couple of takeways, hairdressers etc therefore I do not see what other businesses would be interested in moving into the units. Future developments should use this failing and include only a limited amount of retail units should be included, and the land may be better used as a car park or for community use. If used as under flats car parking this would free up land to increase the density

Comment

Representation ID: 24725

Received: 26/10/2017

Respondent: Mr Christopher Wrathall

We should protect all the current green spaces in the town centre and perhaps include extra small parks and gardens where possible. A conference and exhibition centre near the Waterfront could be a positive development that would help promotion of local businesses.

Comment

Representation ID: 24786

Received: 23/09/2017

Respondent: Mr Philip Pethybridge

Re-evaluate supply/demand for the main town. There has been a drive to bring large retail chains to the town but it contradicts what is happening (large retail at Futura Park and Martlesham). I only go into Ipswich for specialist shopping, the station and football club, i.e. things I cannot find online. People go to a town centre for the experience and that has to be unique rather than replicating all other towns. We need a drive to develop spaces to offer the right space for small retail, boutique business and for specialist start-ups to thrive in, providing a unique experience.

Comment

Representation ID: 24795

Received: 03/10/2017

Respondent: Dr Anastasia Nikologianni

Ipswich town centre has various activities but in certain times lacks energy and variety. To increase activity, use both its significant history and the picturesque areas e.g. the Waterfront. Currently the centre is mainly about shopping and it gets really quiet in the evenings. Create a 'Heart of Ipswich' walk or tour visitors can enjoy or a route that will include walking, cycling, education and entertainment that will go from A to B (Waterfront to the North) and be designed considering the character of the route, not worrying about A or B. A route for locals and tourists to enjoy.

Comment

Representation ID: 24834

Received: 23/10/2017

Respondent: Mr Michael Mann

Start turning many of the shops which are not used into residences and putting boutique shops around the town. It would also be nice if we could start encouraging more cafe style of living within the town and increasing the number trees rather than planters. Stop the number one problem: fear of going into town after dark. The town needs to find ways of reducing violence and the number of drugs within the centre at night. One of the ways of dealing with drugs would be to increase the number of police and dogs at the station entrance.

Comment

Representation ID: 24846

Received: 24/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Constabulary

Any redevelopment of the town centre must factor in both anti-terror mitigation features as well as Designing Out Crime advice. In both cases, quality CCTV should be included.
Incentives should be offered to (smaller) independent shops to help create a sense of identity.
Increased promotion of the town through events such as Christmas markets and attractions such as Pigs Gone Wild that encourage people who may not normally come into the town centre to visit.
Provide more park and ride options (ie re-open Bury Rd, even if only for peak periods).

Comment

Representation ID: 24909

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Historic England

The town centres in Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal are historic and contain significant concentrations of designated heritage assets. Retailing is changing and that has an impact on the buildings housing them, many of them historic. Each centre is different but consideration needs to be made of whether town centres are sustainable as currently constituted, the usages for buildings are correctly identified and they are adequately protected from harmful change of use or conversion. A planned approach to reinforcing the importance of the town centres as a sustainable location, and consideration of appropriate, alternative or additional uses which will provide a strong future for the buildings, is key. A further consideration is the retention of original/historic or significant shopfronts. A development management policy should be in place to manage their change successfully.

Comment

Representation ID: 25091

Received: 30/10/2017

Respondent: Ipswich Central

IBC has shown an entrepreneurial approach to granting permissions for more mixed uses alongside retail. This must continue, as town centres can no longer be sustained on retail alone, and require a much broader range of leisure, service and experiential-based occupiers.

Additional reasons to visit and stay, including additional hotel space and attractions, must be planned for. A new visitor experience must be encouraged on the Waterfront, where further increases in the height of buildings opens up views northwards to the Park and beyond, and southwards. Any opportunity for the creation of a cultural hub, incorporating existing operators.

As part of the redevelopment of the Cornhill, detailed plans should be made for the future use of the new Square to create a vibrant community space that operates as an important, managed open space attraction.

Comment

Representation ID: 25104

Received: 30/10/2017

Respondent: AquiGen

We recommend that the emerging Plan proactively explores and identifies alternative land use policy options which in themselves can have benefits for the Town Centre (e.g. residential).

Comment

Representation ID: 25248

Received: 30/10/2017

Respondent: Ipswich Community Media CIC

Support the development of the arts centre for Ipswich campaign and other grass roots cultural development.

Comment

Representation ID: 25294

Received: 30/10/2017

Respondent: Conservative Group

Instead of trying to compete with other better served retail centres such as Norwich, Colchester, Chelmsford, Freeport Braintree and Bury St Edmunds we should aim to become the main centre for culture and leisure activities whilst retaining our retail offerings.

Comment

Representation ID: 25466

Received: 31/10/2017

Respondent: Ipswich Community Media CIC

Please support and expand the nightlife in a QUALITY - we have been told first hand by authorities, that larger new good music sites are not really wanted due to keeping people in the cardinal park area. We run a small music hub but crying out for genuine music arts centre in the town.
Support a growing arts and music centre and WET arts studios hubs! They DO bring in revenue!

Comment

Representation ID: 25534

Received: 30/10/2017

Respondent: Jean McSorley

Make the old BHS store into an indoor market.