Ipswich Town has submitted plans for a new car park near the Sir Alf Ramsey stand, part of which would be for staff and media personnel.
The club, with agents Boyer Planning, submitted the proposals to Ipswich Borough Council to use a space made empty after Staples and Better Gym left the site in May 2023.
The plans for the 168-space car park have been drawn up following talks with the nearby Travelodge, which will use 17 spaces and have a separate entry.
Of the rest, 113 would be available for long-stay public use, including 6 disabled parking bays.
The club’s staff, outside media personnel and broadcasters would have access to 55 spaces in the car park.The club announced plans for this car park last December (Image: Hoopers.)
The club is asking for permission to use this car park for seven years, which can be extended with an application later.
Additionally, parking spaces are going to be lost on Portman Road, as the council plans to develop a new swimming pool in the area.
In a statement to the council, Boyer Planning wrote: “Whilst Local Plan policies would resist additional long stay car parking capacity in this location, it is clear that this proposal would not result in any net additional spaces.
“Rather, it will provide replacement capacity for spaces that will be temporarily lost whilst land to the east of Portman Road is being redeveloped.”
Work is expected to begin later this year, should the application be approved.The land has been vacant since Staples and Better Gym were demolished in May 2023 (Image: Shikhar Talwar)
As part of the work, the temporary hoardings that are currently in place will be removed.
The Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, originally known as the South Stand, was rebuilt in the early 2000s following the club’s promotion to the Premier League and qualification for the UEFA Cup after a fifth-place finish in 2001.
In 2012, it was renamed after the legendary Ipswich and England manager who led the club to the third division title in 1957, second division title in 1961 and first division title in 1962.
