Decision details

Ipswich Borough Council have acquired, though piecemeal acquisition, a large site at St Peters Dock site; a key land holding at the entrance to the Waterfront area and the gateway to the town centre from the south.

Recently, IBC made an application to the LEP for funding to help redevelop the eastern end of the St Peters Dock site fronting Foundry Lane. This envisaged the refurbishment of an old Victorian warehouse for D2 use and redevelopment of the adjacent Burtons silo into a mixed use scheme comprising: commercial on the ground floor, offices on first and second floors, and residential on the two upper floors.

The scheme was promoted in conjunction with Gecko, the internationally renowned dance group (and an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation), for a new rehearsal and performance space. The bid wasn’t successful but it is possible that alternative funds may be available later this year. The chances of success in future bids will be greater if the scheme is more shovel ready (e.g. if it has planning permission). In additional Gecko have made a bid to the Arts Council for grant funding to help meet the cost of their fit out. A decision from the Arts Council is expected in the autumn.

Due to the speed needed for the original bid referred to above, Ipswich based architects EDRM prepared a concept scheme including detailed visuals, to support the initial LEP bid which was well received. It is now proposed to develop these drawings to the planning application stage. It is intended to contract with EDRM and officers consider this option to provide good value for money – as well as utilising a local firm to undertake the work. A fee level of £20,000 as detailed on the attached proposal is proposed.

There is an existing budget available for this work – where the decision making authority lies with the Head of Development. The decision to waive contract standing orders in this instance is within the delegations of the Chief Executive.

To waive contract standing orders to allow the appointment of EDRM Architects to prepare and submit a hybrid planning consent for redevelopment of the eastern end of the St Peters Dock site to facilitate the redevelopment of the warehouse building for Gecko and establish the use of the Pauls Silo.

Reason: To further develop the scheme prepared by EDRM to the planning stage to be ready to move forward with the project if grant funding is made available.