This prominent town centre building – at 1-3 Westgate Street, on the corner of the Cornhill – has been vacant since the last tenant, Clinton Cards, vacated in 2012.
Ipswich Borough Council has acquired the building and said one of the two units within the building was already under offer and it was expected that the other unit would also soon be under offer.
Vanessa Penn, Managing Director of Penn Commercial, said:
“Acting on behalf of the vendor, Euro Property Investments Ltd, we are thrilled that the sale of 1-3 Westgate Street has now gone through to Ipswich Borough Council, and we are pleased to have helped to breathe new life into this important, historic cornerstone of Ipswich’s busy retail centre.
“We are looking forward to seeing the exciting new plans for this iconic town centre property as they develop.”
Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, commented:
“We want to see a vibrant town centre as much as our residents and businesses do, and this acquisition demonstrates our determination to achieve this. This is more than a property purchase, it’s a powerful step in regenerating our town centre and restoring pride in the heart of Ipswich.”
David Ralph, Chair of the Ipswich Vision and Town Deal Board, says:
“Millions of pounds worth of investment has been unlocked through the Ipswich Town Deal. The Board welcomes the progress that this acquisition will make in delivering the expected outcomes for Ipswich, revitalising and regenerating the town centre, and achieving the aims set out in the Town Investment Plan.”
Image shows: Grimwades building in Ipswich’s Westgate Street CREDIT: Steve Martin / BBC
