Ipswich brewery masterplan should be with planners soon

Mac Khan bought the fire-ravaged brewery, complete with the former Brewery Tap pub and cottage, at auction in November2021.

He has since outlined his hopes to reopen the Brewery Tap as a restaurant and then to turn the former brewery into homes for people who need some support.

Mr Khan is also developing the Westerfield Care Village on the edge of Ipswich and is building new homes on the site of the former Defiance Pub near the River Orwell.

He is working on the brewery with his son Awais, who is project managing the development - and said the size and the historic importance of the site meant it was fairly complex.

He said: "We have been talking to the borough council's heritage officials about what can be done and how to do it and they have been very helpful.

"We have nearly completed the masterplan with their help - we hope to take it to the planners in January and then work with them to put forward a planning application for the whole site.

"It is taking a long time but it is a very large and important site and we need to make sure we get things right."

He said he had had a great deal of support for the proposals - and the length of time it was taking to draw up the plans was expected for a project like this.

The last beer came out of Cliff Quay in 2002 and the Brewery Tap closed several years ago.

The buildings are Listed as being of historic importance - but a disastrous fire in February 2020 caused serious damage and there was frustration in the town at the lack of action by the previous owners of the landmark.

The brewery was damaged by fire in 2020. Picture: Sky Cam East (Image: Sky Cam East)

However, it was put on the market in November 2021 - prompting Mr Khan to pay £475,000 for it. However, the cost of restoring the building and converting it into a new use is expected to run into many millions of pounds.