Work to build a new 185-space car park behind Ipswich Town FC’s Portman Road stadium is now underway.
Machinery has moved onto the site behind the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, formerly home to Staples and Better Gym, after plans received the green light from Ipswich Borough Council last month.
The club has said the car park will be used to provide additional parking for staff and media on match days, although as many as 113 will be made available for public parking.
As much as 1,500m² of the car park could be cordoned off with metal gates and fencing for the exclusive use of the English Football League media team and its broadcasting partners on certain matchdays.
A total of 17 spaces will be returned to the Travelodge hotel next door.
Access to the car park will be retained via Chancery Road, which is being modified with new separate in/out spurs to improve traffic flow. A zebra crossing will also be added, alongside two 6m pedestrian walkways leading to the stadium to provide safe access for fans.
The plans come as the club continues to submit proposals for further upgrades to the stadium, including the construction of new workshop, storage and changing spaces alongside the repurposing of an existing warehouse into additional office space. The ongoing car park project is separate to additional upcoming work at the council-run Portman Road car park, where plans to build a new aquatics centre received unanimous approval in late April.