Ipswich Debenhams owner: Long-stay spaces good for shoppers

The department store, which is also known as Waterloo House, has been vacant since 2021.

Owner Unex began renovating the building that year and at one point even considered making it into a concert venue - but work continues three years later.

Ipswich Borough Council's planning committee has recently also approved the conversion of 190 spaces in Crown Street Car Park to long-stay, giving shoppers and businesses a chance to park their cars for more than five hours. 

Ipswich Borough Council's executive committee had approved plans to add long-stay spaces to the town centre car park.  (Image: IPSWICH BOROUGH COUNCIL) Unex's managing director, Adrian Morris, said that this would be beneficial to shoppers and businesses in the town centre, which may stimulate more interest in taking on the building. 

He said: "My view is that additional parking will certainly be of benefit to shoppers using the town centre. 

"Many provincial towns and cities are car-centric and Ipswich is no different in this respect."

However, Mr Morris added that the pedestrianisation of Lloyds Avenue still remained the main objective for them. 

"The pedestrianisation of Lloyds Avenue as a whole or in part remains absolutely essential to create a north-to-south access for pedestrian flow ideally to better link Christchurch Park and the Quayside," he added. 

The council held a public consultation for Lloyds Avenue plans in September.  (Image: Ipswich Borough Council) Ipswich Borough Council had approved a £1.4m plan to pedestrianise Lloyds Avenue from the arches to Blackberry Clinic in July - and held a public consultation in September. 

However, they are yet to submit a formal proposal to the planning committee to carry out the works on Lloyds Avenue.