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Sale of final plot at Eastern Gateway Ipswich park agreed by Ipswich Borough Council despite councillor squabble




The sale of the final plot of land at a town's industrial park has been agreed despite a councillor squabble.

Yesterday evening, Ipswich council leader, Neil MacDonald, put forward proposals during an executive meeting to sell off plots 20 and 22, the last remaining at Eastern Gateway Ipswich.

The overall 130-acre industrial park site, in Sproughton Road, was bought by the council in 2014 after it was left behind by the former sugar beet factory and acquired special Enterprize Zone (EZ) status in 2016.

Satellite view of Eastern Gateway, in Ipswich. Picture: Google Maps.
Satellite view of Eastern Gateway, in Ipswich. Picture: Google Maps.

Cllr MacDonald said investment from companies such as Trebor Developments and Hillwood on the site was 'a great vote of confidence in the Ipswich economy'.

He added: “I think it's one of the best things we have done, we have taken a vacant site that nobody would look at and converted it into an employment area which employs hundreds of people on the edge of town."

There was some disagreement, however, with opposition leader, Cllr Ian Fisher, arguing the site should have been used to turn a profit for the council.

Neil MacDonald, leader at Ipswich Borough Council. Picture: Ipswich Borough Council
Neil MacDonald, leader at Ipswich Borough Council. Picture: Ipswich Borough Council

He suggested the land could have been sold for more and suggested the council was conducting a 'fire sale to get rid of as many things as we can to get in cash’.

"It’s a missed opportunity as far as I’m concerned," he added.

The identity of the buyer, as well as the price tag on the deal, have been kept confidential but Cllr Fisher suggested the new company would make a ‘six-figure, nearly seven-figure profit’ which could have benefited the council.

Ipswich Council opposition leader, Ian Fisher. Pictures: Ipswich Borough Council
Ipswich Council opposition leader, Ian Fisher. Pictures: Ipswich Borough Council

Addressing this, Cllr MacDonald said: “We were an enabler here and we have enabled a derelict site that needed a lot of remediation and that no developer could afford to make a profit on.

“It has allowed businesses to come here and create jobs and creating jobs was the main aim of what we were trying to do, rather than making a profit.”

The council estimates 900 jobs will be created as a result of the developments — these include jobs created through the Amazon and LDH La Doria sales.

Cllr John Cook added: “There are people who can put food on the table who otherwise wouldn’t be able to because this council made a decision which [Cllr Fisher’s] forebearers in the Tory Party didn’t believe should happen.”

The sale was agreed with Cllr Fisher voting against the proposals.