A £900,000 revamp project to redevelop an Ipswich shopping area with amphitheatre seating and a mural could be granted next week. 

In January, the nearly £1m plans were submitted to revamp Arras Square and St Stephen's Lane, the area outside Buttermarket Shopping Centre.

The redevelopment would include new seating, paving, drainage, lighting, CCTV, litter bins and trees, as well as a new mural, which Ipswich residents were able to have their say on which one they wanted to be installed.

Plans also include the removal of the 10 trees in the area, but these will be replaced by 11.

Ipswich Star: Ipswich residents were able to choose which mural was installed at Arras Square.Ipswich residents were able to choose which mural was installed at Arras Square. (Image: IBC/Newsquest)

The plans will enhance the area outside the shopping centre, which has long been said to need more revamping and should be a focal point of the town centre since the renovation and opening of St Stephen's Church as a live music venue.

Suffolk police commented it had no objections but requested the installation of CCTV to cover the whole area and a reduction in the amount of permanent seating "in view of the high crime and anti-social behaviour levels recorded in the area". 

The council's community safety officer said there had been no drug related litter in the area in the last 6 months but there had been reports of anti social gatherings, drug activity and rough sleeping.

The report said: "The Council’s Communities Anti-Social Behaviour Officer believes the re-paving and re-levelling, installation of landscape features including new trees and architectural lighting and removal of existing trees and removal of boundary walls will not prevent his work to reduce ASB and will benefit the area."

MORE: Ipswich: Arras Square revamp may help St Stephen's Church

A total of 15 consultations were undertaken over a one-month period, with all bar one having no objections.

Suffolk County Council drainage objected to the plans due to the area of Ipswich draining into a combined sewer, contributing to sewer overflows.

Ipswich Star: Plans showing what Arras Square might look like.Plans showing what Arras Square might look like. (Image: Ipswich Borough Council/Erect Architecture)

They did say however that the inclusion of sustainable drainage features within the scheme would reduce the speed and volume of rainwater runoff entering the sewer.

The plans are being recommended for approval, as long as conditions are followed.

One of these conditions includes the fact that no work is allowed to start until details of Sustainable Drainage Features are submitted and approved.

Other details should be submitted and approved before work can start including CCTV details, mural and its ongoing maintenance details and a programme of archaeological works.

Ipswich Borough Council planning committee will come together on August 23 to decide whether the plans should be granted or refused.