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IP-City Centre hosts Waterfront Event

IP-City Centre hosted a major networking event for developers, land-owners, architects, councillors and agents all committed to the regeneration of Ipswich Waterfront.

A number of presentations highlighted not only the progress made over the past few years and months but also updated delegates on the next phases of development.

Among those present were John DiCarlo, of Braceforce, the developers behind the £100 million St Peter Port development off Star Lane and other residential developments around the Waterfront, Dr Peter Funnell from the new University Campus Suffolk (UCS) project, which opens next week, and Robin Townley, of DanceEast.

The multi-million pound regional DanceHouse is one the major features of the huge Mill development on the Northern Quays. Wharfside Regeneration is putting this exciting project together on the old Cranfields Mill site. The East of England Development Agency has been an important backer of this project.

Also present were, among others, Martin O’Hara of Associated British Ports, Samantha Kirk of City Living, Alex Leader of Savills and Ian Jeffrey of Persimmon Homes.

There is much optimism that future projects will further enhance the area. Samantha Kirk told delegates: “City Living is an ambitious, forward thinking company with the desire to become a prominent developer in the region, in particular on the Waterfront in Ipswich.”

The present is pretty exciting, too! Alex Leader said Savills had handled more than 600 enquiries about the Regatta Quay development, generating in excess of £6 million pounds in sales, since January.

Dr Funnell highlighted the partnership that had brought UCS to Ipswich and Suffolk. He said the university would reduce the skills gap and bring an additional £50 million of economic activity each year. Investment in the Ipswich campus alone represented £180 million over 10 years and was providing a landmark building on the Waterfront.

Ipswich Borough Council is a key player in the development of the Waterfront, the biggest single urban regeneration project in the East of England. Borough Council planners confirmed the sheer volume of development, boosted by the varied Waterfront projects both completed and on going. Staff are dealing with 1,400 planning applications every year and many of these are major and complex projects.

Councillor Richard Atkins, Planning & Development portfolio-holder, said: “This was an important event as it helped everyone keep up with the quite incredible pace of change on the Waterfront. When you are so close to a project - or series of projects - it is sometimes easy to forget the overall impact this is having on the town and sub-region. We welcome the support of so many people and organisations in the private and public sectors and also the fact that this regeneration is changing the face of Ipswich. It is also putting us on the national and international development map.”