Issues and Options for the Ipswich Local Plan Review

Comment

Representation ID: 25156

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Planning processes and decisions should be supportive of private sector investment and job creation and must be undertaken in a timely manner across all of the topic areas with clear timetables and dedicated support for those businesses new to the planning process or unable to buy in specialist support.

Comment

Representation ID: 25157

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

We strongly recommend that sites currently allocated for employment are sustained and that a presumption should be made against their re-allocation for housing. Business growth and not housing growth will be the primary driver for a more prosperous Ipswich.

Comment

Representation ID: 25158

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

If economic and business growth is to occur we believe that the focus on central Ipswich should be extended, especially westward to include Norwich Road as a key gateway to the town, although we support the overriding aim of re-aligning the key routes through the town north to south to strengthen the links between the town centre and the Waterfront.In order to simplify, and provide a clearer statement of intent for, future developments the 'quarters' defined and described under IP-One and Ipswich Vision should be made consistent and probably rationalised.

Comment

Representation ID: 25159

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

We have no specific comments here, other than that the Plan will need to make adequate and appropriate provision for the required mix of housing given the overall projected population and employment growth.

Comment

Representation ID: 25161

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

We note the jobs target and query whether it's realistic when viewed in the context of the current total stock of jobs in Ipswich and the potential constraints that exist on the future supply of labour/skills.
Given the extent to which the delivery of the Plan is predicated on employment growth it will be essential for the Council and other public partners to work closely and supportively with businesses. Likewise it will be essential for the Council to work collaboratively with Suffolk County Council, FE and HE providers to ensure the local delivery of appropriate education/skills for growth.
Although outside the remit there should be associated initiatives to market Ipswich to businesses who can bring the required labour and skills into the town.

Comment

Representation ID: 25162

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

We hope that the Council will continue to support the Suffolk Chamber-led No More A14 Delays in Suffolk campaign which advocates improvements to, amongst others, Junctions 53 (Whitehouse), 55 (Copdock), 56 (Whersted); 57 (Ransomes); and 58 (Seven Hills). In that context the Plan should identify, where necessary and possible, opportunities for the Council to 'mesh' with any proposals emerging from Highways England or the highways authority.

The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce strongly supports proposals that will evaluate, alternative routes round and through Ipswich to alleviate congestion including the Upper Orwell Crossings, a Northern Bypass and solutions to the heavily-congested gyratory and bottlenecks into and out of town such as the A1156, A1189, A1214 and A1071. Likewise we wish to see more careful forward planning of the infrastructure necessary to service new developments sites for example at Futura Park and Ransomes Europark.

We support the introduction of innovative transport and parking solutions to tackle congestion and stimulate footfall such as the continuation (or re-establishment, at ASDA) of simple and affordable park and ride schemes, more customer-friendly car park charging schemes, bus timetabling better synchronised to business needs and improved routes and facilities to encourage cycling.

Comment

Representation ID: 25163

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Multi storey car parks should be located as near as possible to those shopping zones highlighted as prime and underground parking facilities in flood free zones should be considered under any new multi storey building.

Comment

Representation ID: 25164

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Bus incentives need to be considered to encourage better use of public transport to prevent congestion from driving visitors away to out of town shopping centres or to other towns.
We support proposals that create better links between the retail centre and both the railway station and the Waterfront.

Comment

Representation ID: 25165

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

There is an urgent need for the provision of a taxi rank on the Waterfront, for both business development and public safety reasons, and this is a long overdue promise of the public authorities.

Comment

Representation ID: 25166

Received: 27/10/2017

Respondent: Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

We support Better Broadband for Suffolk to roll out superfast (24 Mbs) broadband and: 100% coverage by the end of 2017; business prioritisation; and 100% 100 Mbs coverage by the end of the decade. The Plan policies should take account of the very real need, for new developments and retro-fitting.
Likewise we hope that the Plan will include policies which promote 100% 4G mobile technology coverage by all networks, through provider collaboration where possible.
Regarding utilities the Plan should ensure that water provision, waste water disposal and electricity provision at all employment sites are adequate for present and future needs.