Plans for the major redevelopment work at Portman Road including building a new aquatic centre have officially been submitted to the council's planning committee.

The materplan proposals from Ipswich Borough Council have been in development since late 2022.

A full planning application has gone in for the aquatic centre, while an outline planning application has gone in for the wider masterplan around the centre, including the potential for a new hotel on a development plot.

The concept of building a new swimming centre on the site of the former cattle market was first proposed in 2006. 

In March this year, the borough's executives discussed the masterplan which had been developed before further tweaking and submitting the official plans which went in this week.

The work includes the construction of a new facility which includes an eight-lane 25-metre swimming pool, seating for spectators, a learner pool, spin studio, two exercise studios and a fitness suite.

There will also be a café, soft play and outside public areas.

As well as this, plans have also been submitted for the associated access work and car parking, with a new multi-storey car park being proposed.

A new pedestrian route has been created, running from the west of the site to the east.

Within the redevelopment plans, it also states the benefits it would bring to Ipswich Town Football Club and the redevelopment of the Cobbold Stand on the eastern side of the stadium.

The plans state: "The envisioned redevelopment of the Cobbold Stand, along with a planned increase in capacity, is deeply embedded within the club's strategic roadmap.

"This cohesive approach to urban regeneration underscores a concerted effort to revitalise the Ipswich town centre."

The concept of building a new swimming centre in Ipswich were first proposed in 2006, but these were shelved.

The new aquatic centre would replace Crown Pools which just turned 40 years old.

Ipswich Borough Council leader Neil MacDonald said: "This project is set to become a community jewel, a beacon of how sports, leisure and communal well-being are valued in Ipswich.

"Together, we are not just building facilities; we are building hope opportunity, and a legacy of communal well-being."