Consultation over plans to develop Lower Brook Street site in Ipswich for homes

A new home for Archant Suffolk in Portman House.

Major plans have been revealed to re-develop the site in Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, which has been occupied for the last 50 years by Archant, publishers of the East Anglian Daily Times and the Ipswich Star.

McCarthy and Stone, the UK’s biggest retirement home developer, has acquired an interest in the site and is proposing to redevelop it as age-exclusive retirement apartments and houses.

Archant, owner of the EADT and Ipswich Star, is moving its Suffolk headquarters to a new home - still in Ipswich town centre - at Portman House in Portman Road, later this summer.

The site will then be the subject of an archeological dig, and demolition of existing buildings.

The Lower Brook Street site is seen as ideally placed for new homes, between the centre of town and the rapidly-developing Waterfront area. Site owner Montague Asset Management LLP, has agreed a deal with McCarthy and Stone, to develop it for homes. Ipswich-based Montague Asset Management PLC, run by Stephen Clark, is a major developer of commercial property across the country.

Businessman John Howard, who is working with Montague Asset Management on the project, said they had exchanged contracts for a scheme of retirement housing.

He said: “It will be a lovely scheme for the area, in the heart of the town centre and only one road away from the Waterfront.

“It is really good for the town, and the area.

“It fits in well with the Ipswich Vision to provide new homes in the heart of the town.”

McCarthy and Stone said the plans were still at a preliminary stage and no planning application had yet been submitted to Ipswich Borough Council.

Ahead of submitting a planning application, McCarthy and Stone will be offering neighbouring residents and local stakeholders an opportunity to meet with the project team to discuss the draft proposals.

A public exhibition will also be held to give the local community a chance to view and comment on the plans, with dates still to be confirmed.

Mark Wright, regional managing director of McCarthy and Stone said: “We are keen to bring forward a high-quality, attractive scheme which positively contributes to the character of Ipswich, while also improving local housing choice and providing economic benefits for the area.

“The proposals represent a significant investment in Ipswich.

“In order to achieve our vision for the site, it is important that we receive feedback from the community and we are looking forward to engaging local people to hear their comments in the coming weeks.

“Independent research shows our homeowners shop and spend locally, so this development has the potential to provide a significant boost to Ipswich town centre and the local economy.”

Mr Howard said Montague Asset Management had to deal with the demolition and archaeology dig on the site, once Archant had moved out.

He said: “Hopefully the planning application will be put in by August of this year. We are hopeful that will be granted by Christmas of this year to allow work to start next year.”

The archeological dig, of this historic site, would take place before any re-development, he added.

Newspaper group is on the move

After 50 years in Lower Brook Street, the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star are moving later this summer.

Archant, which owns the newspapers, is investing in a new office, Portman House, at the corner of Portman Road and Princes Street. The building, originally owned by cigar makers Churchmans, is being fully modernised internally and converted into a state-of-the-art office for more than 100 people.

Its position will see it as one of the key components of a burgeoning business corridor, running from the railway station, along Princes Street, towards the town centre. As well as Archant’s investment, the former Fisons building is being converted into offices, and there are similar plans for the former nightclub. In addition, the existing snooker club is due to be replaced by a new headquarters for a leading local solicitors’ company, and the Portman Road car park is earmarked as a business park. Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council, and Ipswich Crown Court are also very nearby.