Blanche Street, Ipswich, storage unit could become a pharmacy under Wellbeing (UK) plans

A ‘soon-to-be vacant’ storage unit in Ipswich could become a pharmacy under new plans.

Wellbeing (United Kingdom) has lodged a change of use application with Ipswich Borough Council, seeking to convert 2 Blanche Street, at the junction with Cemetery Road and Samuel Court.

If approved, the site would offer prescription medication and over the counter medicines.

The address currently houses Door2Door leafleting, although the applicant said it was ‘due to be vacant soon’.

The applicant runs 40 NHS-partnered pharmacies in the UK, including six in Ipswich, at Orchard Street Medical Centre, Reynolds Road, Chesterfield Drive, Cox Lane, Penzance Road and Norwich Road.

Operations at Orchard Street Medical Centre are set to stop later this year and this new outlet would replace it, planning documents said.

The outside of the building would remain much the same, while the inside would be renovated.

In addition, a new aluminium framed entrance door with side panels and level threshold would help disabled people enter the building.

There will also be two car parking spaces allocated for staff.

The applicant said they already hire people in the area and staff would likely swap around branches as needed.

Consultations for advice, inoculations and vaccinations are not expected to happen at this branch, it continued, although the site would contain a small room where pharmacists could speak to patients.

The building is 100 metres from the nearest bus stop, in Woodbridge Road, planning documents added.

Customers wishing to travel by car would have to part at the Regent Car Park, off Woodbridge Road, or in Christchurch Street.

The proposals will go before planners soon.