Unex, which owns former Debenhams in Ipswich, believes Lloyds Avenue pedestrianisation plans could make the building more attractive to tenants

The owner of Ipswich’s former Debenhams is confident plans to pedestrianise a part of the town centre could help attract tenants to the building.

Last month, Ipswich Borough Council (IBC)’s executive agreed to £1.4 million in funding to add green spaces and expand footpaths and partially pedestrianise Lloyds Avenue, as well as Major’s Corner.

It forms part of a wider scheme to create a ‘green’ route between the street and Ipswich waterfront.

Neil MacDonald, IBC’s leader, said a public consultation into the plans will begin today and will run until August 29.

Adrian Morris, managing director of Unex, which has owned Waterloo House, the Debenhams building in Westgate Street, since 2021, said he had advocated similar plans since the firm took control of the building.

He wanted to create more of an ‘active’ front for the building to allow for the placement of restaurants and wished to have some on the side of Westgate Street and others on the Lloyds Avenue side.

Mr Morris said: “I think what they’ve done and what’s been proposed is an excellent first step, but I think it should go further, with the complete pedestrianisation of Lloyds Avenue.

“If it happens, I think it will make the building more compelling for tenants and will generate stronger interest for businesses looking to fill it.

“It should have an enormous benefit, not only for Debenhams but for other businesses in Lloyds Avenue and the wider town centre.”

The proposed changes for Lloyds Avenue include a reduction in taxi rank muster points from 21 to 10, the expansion of footpaths, the removal of phone booths and the planting of trees.

As they stand, Mr Morris said it would allow Unex to rearrange the layout of Debenhams.

However, he felt the plans need to go further to encourage people to stay in Lloyds Avenue rather than just the pedestrianised areas.

“We need to make it attractive to pedestrians and create a café-style evening economy,” he said.

“I’d also like to see pedestrian traffic redirected from the bus station and Christchurch Park way towards Sailmakers yard.

“We need to make the street attractive for pedestrians to get them down Lloyds Avenue.”

Mr Morris said finding firms to fill the old Debenhams was progressing more slowly than he expected.

“There are issues with timings for relocations,” he said.

“We want more businesses committed to moving in and have a bit more of it under offer before we redevelop the building.”

Mr Morris said he hoped to see a variety of retailers occupying the ground floor, while there were also talks of moving some hospital services into Waterloo House.

Mr Morris added: “This would do its bit to bring people into the town centre as it’s an easier location to get to for such services.”

Cllr MacDonald added that responses from the public consultation into the pedestrianisation project will be used to inform the final technical designs.