Education centre plan for historic building lodged

3 hours ago

George KingSuffolk

News image — The historic Grimwades building, now home to a ground-floor restaurant, had been empty and disused for many years

Matt 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. — The historic Grimwades building, now home to a ground-floor restaurant, had been empty and disused for many years

Plans have been submitted to turn part of a historic building into an education centre to help adults find new jobs.

Ipswich Borough Council wants to breathe new life into the first floor of the Grimwades building as part its regeneration of the town centre.

The BBC understands the project, in partnership with Suffolk New College, will cost £800,000. It could open in May and welcome its first students in September.

Leader of the Labour-run council Neil MacDonald said the development represented a "significant investment in the future", but Conservative opposition leader Ian Fisher previously said other options should have been considered.

John Fairhall/BBC Neil MacDonald was stood on the right of the image looking towards the camera smiling. He was wearing black glasses, a white shirt and a beige blazer, and was stood in front of a portal which was made of stone with a screen. — Ipswich Borough Council leader Neil MacDonald said the project signalled "an exciting time" for the town

"We're thrilled to see such varied uses of buildings within the town," MacDonald said.

"This goes a long way towards future-proofing our community and providing services that meet everyone's needs."

The Grimwades building on the Cornhill had been empty since 2012 and its condition had deteriorated, but it was acquired by the Labour-run council last year.

Since then the Jamaica Blue restaurant has opened on the ground floor with outdoor seating, and planning permission has been submitted to transform its first floor.

The 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. — Grimwades, pictured in the 1960s, was an "outfitting and tailoring" store before the Cornhill was pedestrianised

Funding for the project will be provided from the government's Local Regeneration Fund, and Suffolk New College will carry out works to ensure it meets learners' needs.

Alan Pease, principal of the college, said it was "a fantastic step" in giving adults the tools they needed to succeed in a rapidly changing job market".

David Ralph, chair of Ipswich Vision and the Town Deal Board, said the learning centre would have a "long-lasting impact on our economy and our communities".

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said the project would "open up new opportunities for local people while bringing an empty town centre space back into use".