Plans for a £875,000 creative hub in a town hall could take a major step forward after a tenant was found.
On Tuesday, Ipswich’s leader, Cllr Neil MacDonald, will be asking members of the council’s executive to enter into an agreement with a tenant and unlock £875,000 in grant money to deliver a new creative hub within the town hall.
The authority secured the money back in September 2023 from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (NALEP) and began looking for a tenant to enter into a 10-year lease.
Ipswich Borough Council has allocated a unit on the ground floor of the Town Hall for the project. Picture: IBC
The space within the town hall, previously used by the council’s customer service centre, is meant to be home for start-up and established IT, tech and digital creativity businesses, with a focus on screen, media and gaming.
The council report said: “Once occupied, the hub is expected to contribute to the diversification and vibrancy of the town centre in conjunction with helping attract and retain talent in the sector.”
The money is meant to be split into two pots, with £750,000 to be spent on fit-out costs and £125,000 earmarked for professional fees and project management.
Ipswich’s leader, Cllr Neil MacDonald, will be presenting the proposals to executive members on Tuesday. Picture: Ipswich Borough Council
The hub, which could open by September this year, will include open work areas, meeting rooms, and breakout spaces.
Although the operator was not revealed, council papers said it was a well-respected company operating similar hubs elsewhere in the country.
Once operational, the hub will have 10 years to secure a range of requirements, including the equivalent of between 62 and 77 full-time jobs, house up to 20 individual businesses with 20 hot desks per business, 10 desks for student use and super or ultrafast broadband.
If approved on Tuesday, the papers will be brought to the full council for a final decision.