Discussion to sell final units in Eastern Gateway, Ipswich

Construction on the eight-acre Eastern Gateway warehouse was completed in June, after which Ipswich Borough Council invited prospective occupiers to make bids.

This was made possible after the council took over the former sugar beet factory on Sproughton Road in 2014, and made investments to build new sites within it. 

The council executive committee will discuss two bids that have been made for the final plot of land at next Tuesday's meeting.

Council leader Neil MacDonald will be presenting the paper to the committee.

The papers say that when all sales are completed, the developments on the site will have created in excess of 900 jobs. 

As part of the sale, the council will be required to construct a new roundabout on Sproughton Road.

The report says that planning permission has been approved and is due to begin in April 2025 subject to highways approval. 

Neil MacDonald will present the paper to the committee. (Image: Warren Page/Ipswich Council) Mr MacDonald previously said: "The acquisition marked a significant investment for the council and was undertaken due to the potential of the site to make a major contribution towards economic growth within the town and wider area and to provide significant employment opportunities."

Trebor and Hillwood began working on the site on the outskirts of the town in September last year.

The site was declared officially ready, with units ranging from 12,897 to 52,491 sq ft being available, after which they began receiving offers for the site. 

The paper recommends that the executive committee go through with the sale, and states: "This will alleviate the council of ongoing management and maintenance costs as these are the last plots to dispose of.

"The offer price has been identified by external consultants as the best price available for the plots in the current market."

The details of the buyer are not yet publicly available.