Ipswich car wash at junction of St Margaret’s Street and St Margaret’s Green submits plans to stay open

An Ipswich car wash which is facing closure enforcement after losing a planning battle has submitted plans to stay open.

The site, at the corner of St Margaret’s Green and St Margaret’s Street, has been in operation since 2012.

In January, a planning inspector dismissed an appeal from the site’s occupants against Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) after the authority refused permission for it to remain open in December 2022.

Last week, the site’s operators submitted another planning application, hoping to continue using it as a car wash for another year.

A spokesperson for IBC said: “The local planning authority is working with the owner of the site regarding enforcement following the appeal dismissal.

“An application has been submitted by the operator which the local planning authority will determine in accordance with the statutory time frames.”

The planning inspector upholding IBC’s decision meant the site would be forced to close.

In February, the authority confirmed it was in talks to enforce a closure of the site so it could be used for development.

In his reasoning for dismissing the appeal, the planning inspector expressed concerns the site was an eyesore and would be harmful to the character of the town centre conservation area.