The go-ahead has been given today for a new wet dock crossing in Ipswich, spanning the waterfront area of the town to connect communities with a new road infrastructure that will also serve a business and innovation centre based on an island in the dock itself. As part of his budget speech today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed the government’s support for this project. There now needs to be a review of the decision to determine the funding for this project. This news has been met with excitement by local partner organisations responsible for its submission.

Leader of Suffolk County Council, Cllr Colin Noble said: “This is a great moment for Ipswich and Suffolk. I am very pleased to receive the news that we have been given permission to proceed with developing the proposal and moving forward towards a timeframe for construction. This is a massive piece of work and is likely to cost around £90 - £100million. It will deliver jobs and much improved infrastructure to our ever growing county town that attracts people from across the county and the UK to visit and enjoy. This is a project that has a lot of local support and demonstrates our commitment to supporting Ipswich’s continued economic development as part of the Ipswich Vision.”

The business case sets out the ambition to transform and develop the island site within Ipswich waterfront to bring in new business opportunities, job opportunities and development for residential and leisure use. This scheme will be a catalyst for economic growth worth more than £8billion to the local economy. Work has shown that, in addition to its likely effect on economic development, the new crossing will result in a significant reduction in congestion in the Star Lane area, one of the most congested parts of town, and will also relieve congestion on the A14 Orwell Bridge by providing an alternative route for local traffic..

Mark Pendlington, Chairman of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership said: “This is an enormous success for our county town and a great step forward for our Ipswich Vision ambitions. It is thanks to the vision, hard work and campaigning led by Ben Gummer MP, business and education leaders, and local authorities that we have been rightly rewarded in the Chancellor’s budget. The Wet Dock Crossing will unlock even more enterprise and innovation at the Waterfront and boost jobs and future housing growth for the whole town. I hope it is the first of many exciting announcements for Ipswich which is finally getting the national recognition it deserves.”

To view the approved Outline Business Case, please visit the Suffolk County Council’s website at https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/public-transport-and-planning/consultations-and-studies and click on the third tab ‘Transport Studies’