Skip to content

Tories criticise 'closed doors deal' for building

Vikki IrwinSuffolk political reporter
News imageMatt Marvel/BBC A three-storey red brick building with chimneys and turrets is at the side of an open, pedestrianised square in a town centre. A pedestrianised street runs along the side of the building on the right. There is a pub and hotel building next to it on the left. Shoppers are walking in front of it.Matt Marvel/BBC
The Grimwades building had been completely empty for years until Jamaica Blue took over the ground floor last year

A decision to spend £800,000 turning a historic town centre building that had been empty for years into an adult learning centre has been criticised as a "deal done behind closed doors".

The project to refurbish the first floor of the former Grimwades store on Ipswich's Cornhill was listed in exempt items for Tuesday's borough council executive meeting, meaning the public and press were excluded from hearing the details.

Ian Fisher, Conservative opposition leader at the Labour council, said other options should have been considered.

The council said it was "unable to provide comment on this matter because it relates to information that is commercially sensitive".

News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC Ian Fisher smiles at the camera outside a GP medical practice. He has short dark hair and wears a blue suit, white shirt and a gold tie. Some bushes can be seen around him outside the GP.John Fairhall/BBC
Ian Fisher said the adult learning centre would be run by Suffolk New College

The money to carry out the refurbishments has been allocated from Ipswich Borough Council's £25m Towns Fund, according to a report to the executive.

The Towns Fund was money given to the council by central government in 2020 to support regeneration.

The Grimwades building had been empty since 2012.

The council acquired the building last year, and since then the Jamaica Blue restaurant has opened on the ground floor with outdoor seating.

'Landmark' building

Fisher said it was not in doubt that the adult learning centre would be beneficial for the town.

However, he added: "Is this really the best thing that we can find for one of the landmark buildings in the town centre?

"It could be that if it was put out to tender, and lots of people put their names in the hat and lots of companies made offers, that the adult learning centre came out on top.

"But nobody did, because nobody had the opportunity."

News imageThe Ipswich Society A three-storey red brick building with chimneys and turrets is at the rear of an open square in a town centre. It has "GRIMWADES" in large lettering above the first floor windows. Other shop buildings are on the right of the picture. There is a bus lane and stops in the middle of the picture, with cars parked next to it. The Ipswich Society
Grimwades "outfitting and tailoring" store, pictured in the 1960s, before the Cornhill was pedestrianised

The council said it would not comment on the project because it was an exempt item.

A spokesperson said: " Local authorities have a legal duty to protect confidential and commercially sensitive material where its release could prejudice the commercial interests of the council or third parties, undermine ongoing negotiations, or compromise the integrity of procurement or contractual processes.

"For these reasons, certain reports, discussions, and decisions must be considered in a private session and cannot be shared publicly."

The executive report also said that jewellery chain Lovisa would be opening a new store in the remaining ground floor unit of the building "in early 2026 and landlord works have begun to enable this".

News imageMatt Marvel/BBC A three-storey red brick building with chimneys and turrets is at the far end of an open, pedestrianised square in a town centre. A pedestrianised street runs along the side of the building on the right. There is a pub and hotel building next to it on the left. Shoppers are walking in front of it. There is a round "portal" on the Cornhill, showing images from other locations across the world.Matt Marvel/BBC
Grimwades building is just across the street from the former Debenhams store, which has been empty since 2001

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
Related internet links