‘It puts Ipswich on the map’: Digital portal backed by councillors

Planners have backed plans to build a digital portal in Ipswich to put the town on the map.

Ipswich’s planning committee members met earlier today to discuss the authority’s own plans to build the new portal in front of the archway leading to Lloyds Avenue, in the Cornhill.

The portal is meant to allow for a live connection between the town and other international locations, mimicking those already in place in Dublin, Philadelphia, and Lublin, Poland.

Hannah Wright, project manager for the council, told councillors the portal would showcase one of the ‘most magnificent buildings in Ipswich’, the Town Hall.

She said: “It puts Ipswich on the map, both UK and globally, it will showcase its heritage, its culture and, hopefully, its innovation.”

Ms Wright said the Dublin building had been visited by as many as one million people in just six months, alongside significant social media coverage, and had regenerated an area which wasn’t particularly popular.

The plans were for the portal to operate between 6am and 11pm, with measures in place, such as camera blurring, should anyone get too close.

Future locations for similar portals are planned for Barre Grane, in Brazil, Manila, in the Philippines, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia.

Despite this, the authority’s Ipswich Conservation and Design Panel has objected to the proposals due to concerns the portal would block the view into the Cornhill from Lloyds Avenue, itself subject to an existing planning consent for a major £1.4 million revamp.

Further concerns were raised about the portal losing its value as an attraction and being used as a screen for advertising.

Planning officers said specific advertisement consent would be required from the authority for such use.

Cllr Colin Kreidewolf argued councillors should not be scared of putting something new and modern in the area and should, instead, see it as a positive addition.

He said: “Some have questioned the incongruity of this design in the town centre, but I see it as a positive — a town evolves and has different features in it.

“It’s a sign about the developing nature of Ipswich and the positivity that it has. It allows Ipswich the opportunity to reach out to the world and show itself.”

Following a request by Cllr Oliver Holmes, councillors agreed to back the portal, subject to an extra condition reducing the permission from permanent to just five years.