A new Cornhill Strategy, being created by Ipswich Borough Council, will look to establish the area as the ‘beating heart’ of Ipswich Town Centre.
The new strategy sets out the Council’s ambition to make the Cornhill a vibrant, busy, enjoyable, clean, safe, and inclusive destination.
Linked to the Council’s new Corporate Strategy – Proud of Ipswich – plans for the Cornhill will help to achieve a thriving town centre, with the Cornhill at the heart of the town. The Cornhill will become a place where everyone can feel safe and welcome, and where people can shop, socialise, and experience brilliant culture, and access the services they need.
The Cornhill is within a Central Conservation Area in the Ipswich Local Plan due to its ancient streets and numerous Listed buildings plus buildings of special local interest, and by working in partnership with Ipswich Central, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Constabulary and Landlords, the Council aims to ensure it is an area the public continue to enjoy.
Recent improvements include the former Post Office now occupied by The Botanist, Deichmann which opened in 2020 and a rejuvenated Town Hall with Register Office, St Elizabeth Hospice’s Moments Coffee Shop, as well as events and conferences and cinema in the adjoining Corn Exchange.
Work will continue to bring other empty buildings into use. For example, steps have recently been undertaken to pursue a Compulsory Purchase of the Grimwades building. This will be supplemented by continued engagements with the landlords of other empty buildings.
Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, says:
“The Cornhill should be the beating heart of our Town Centre. This dedicated strategy sets out what we will do to make it that vibrant heart, building on recent investment and activities.
We want the town centre to be a place where our community, our businesses and our visitors all feel safe and welcome and to experience the best that Ipswich has to offer.
A lot of work has gone into the development of the Cornhill, with this strategy cementing plans to build and regenerate the area in the years to come.”
Full papers for the Ipswich Borough Council Executive meeting on Tuesday 8 August 2023 at 6pm can be found online.
