Handford Developments is pleased that the next Planning Committee of Ipswich Borough Council on 27 July is recommending approval of our application to build a new Depot for the Council.
The new proposed green Depot for Ipswich Borough Council at New Way, adjacent to Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate, will be a first-class facility to deliver many council services – from waste collection to housing repairs – from a single site. The Depot is designed to remain up to date by being future-proofed to be able to evolve as services develop.
The new Depot is set to be “BREEAM” ‘outstanding’ (the highest possible BREEAM – Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method – rating for environmental sustainability) with landscaping, insulation and other sustainable measures making the site carbon neutral. The use of solar panels and wind turbines will ensure green energy is delivered into the Depot underlining its significant environmental credentials and it will also enable the whole of the Council’s fleet of vehicles to be electric by 2030.
The Depot will meet high safety standards, such as with a one-way system in operation throughout and so minimising reversing. Staff facilities will be much improved. There will be natural light in to all offices and meeting rooms and which will all meet high accessibility standards. There will be Improved kitchen facilities on both floors of the main warehouse and office building as well as improved toilet and shower facilities and better parking.
Handford Developments (owned by Ipswich Borough Council) has led the design of the scheme. Handford Developments hopes to appoint a building contractor to complete the development soon, if the planning application is agreed. The site has already been cleared.
Colin Kreidewolf, the Chair of Handford Developments, says:
“I am pleased that Council officers are recommending approval of our planning application to build a new green Depot for the Council that is to a high standard of sustainability and which will be a first-class base for all the waste, cleansing and housing maintenance teams of Ipswich Borough Council.
“We are pleased to lead in this field and we encourage all developers to target a carbon neutral approach to new facilities and so put sustainability into the heart of design.”