Ipswich redevelopment of office building as tourist attraction 'genuinely unique', say borough councillors

The redevelopment of an office building as a tourist attraction will be 'genuinely unique', councillors have said.

Planning committee councillors met yesterday to discuss redevelopment proposals for Waterfront House, in Wherry Quay, Ipswich, which has stood empty since 2023.

Baylight Properties Ltd, which submitted the bid, sought to turn the office building into a community, cultural and tourist visitor attraction to celebrate everything associated with clay.

Mark Edgerley, the agent, told councillors the venue would accommodate as many as 600 people each day and employ 13 staff.

He said the ceramics workshop, included with the plans, would contain a kiln measuring two cubic metres, making it one of the largest publicly available kilns in the UK.

The project included areas for exhibition halls and galleries, learning, an entrance foyer and a retail area, along with plant and service areas, as well as renovations to the inside and outside of the building.

Cllr Carole Jones, who spoke as a supporter, said it would be more than a visitor attraction and serve as a community space, which would complement the offer in the area.

She said: “In my head I've been thinking of it as a museum, but it is so much more than that — I think it is a kind of visionary application, it is an application that is unique.

"I think this is a wonderful opportunity for the reuse of this landmark building and a wonderful opportunity for Ipswich and for all of us that live here.”

Councillors unanimously supported the plans, subject to conditions, including an extra materials requirement to ensure the quality of the cladding.