Latest news with #IpswichBoroughCouncil
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fire alarm saves museum store room from blaze
A museum store room may have been lost to a fire had its alarm not been working, a fire service said. Suffolk Fire and Rescue was called to an automatic fire alarm within a building belonging to Ipswich Museum on Charles Street on Saturday night. Crews found there had been a fire in the electrical intake to the property that had spread to the void between the ground and first floor levels. The fire service said there had been damage to the ceiling, but no artefacts being stored in the building had been affected before a stop message was received at 20:31 BST. "Had the building have not had a working automatic fire alarm, the fire would have gone unnoticed for a considerable time and the building would have probably been lost," a spokesperson for the fire service said. When crews arrived at the scene, they had to isolate the electricity to the property and remove the ceiling to access the fire within the void. UK Power Networks was also in attendance and the fire service said the electrical supply would be "out for a while". The 144-year-old museum on High Street has been closed since 2022 for a substantial renovation to create an additional gallery, new educational space, new cafe and improved toilets. The site was expected to reopen this year, but was pushed back to next year after Ipswich Borough Council said the project had so far been "complex and significant" and it wanted to do the work "properly". The council has been approached for comment. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Setbacks push museum reopening back to 2026 Inside 140-year-old museum during mammoth renovations Ipswich Museum revamp £2.7m over budget Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Ipswich Museum Ipswich Borough Council
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Ipswich Museum saved from blaze due to working fire alarm
A 144-year-old museum that is currently being renovated may have been lost to a fire had its alarm not been working, a fire service said. Suffolk Fire and Rescue was called to an automatic fire alarm at Ipswich Museum on High Street on Saturday found there had been a fire in the electrical intake to the property that had spread to the void between the ground and first floor fire service said there had been damage to the ceiling, but no artefacts in the building had been affected before a stop message was received at 20:31 BST. "Had the building have not had a working automatic fire alarm, the fire would have gone unnoticed for a considerable time and the building would have probably been lost," a spokesperson for the fire service said. When crews arrived at the scene, they had to isolate the electricity to the property and remove the ceiling to access the fire within the Power Networks was also in attendance and the fire service said the electrical supply would be "out for a while". The museum has been closed since 2022 for a substantial renovation to create an additional gallery, new educational space, new cafe and improved site was expected to reopen this year, but was pushed back to next year after Ipswich Borough Council said the project had so far been "complex and significant" and it wanted to do the work "properly".The council has been approached for comment. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ipswich County Hall sells after two unsuccessful auctions
A Grade II listed building that had fallen into disrepair has been sold after two unsuccessful County Hall on St Helen's Street was put to auction by Savills on 13 May and again on Wednesday, but failed to attract a Tudor-style building came with planning permission to convert the site into 40 new Savills have confirmed a buyer had been found post-auction. "We're pleased to have successfully secured a buyer for the historic Ipswich County Town Hall," Sam Steinberg, of Savills Auctions, said."The sale was agreed post-auction and achieved a price just shy of its guide." The first auction earlier this month had a reserve price of £895,000, but this was not Wednesday, the bidding similarly did not meet a lower reserve of £750,000, although a bid of £745,000 was made.A spokesperson for Ipswich Borough Council added: "It's good to hear that a buyer for County Hall has been found. We encourage them to discuss their plans with the Council as soon as possible."County Hall was where the divorce of Wallis Simpson was granted in 1936 before her marriage to the then King Edward site dates back to 1837 and originally served as a prison and law court before becoming a council building from 1906. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ipswich digital portal given planning permission
Plans to install a portal with a real-time visual link to another destination in the world have been Borough Council applied to build a structure outside its town hall, which would have a two-way, live video feed with another location. The project mimicked those already in place in Dublin and New committee councillors backed the proposal, on the condition that it would be in place for five years, rather than being a permanent fixture. Hannah Wright, project manager for the council, told councillors the portal would showcase one of the most magnificent buildings in Ipswich - the town said: "It puts Ipswich on the map, both UK and globally, it will showcase its heritage, its culture and, hopefully, its innovation."Ms Wright said the Dublin building had been visited by as many as one million people in just six months, alongside significant social media coverage, and had regenerated an area which wasn't particularly Local Democracy Reporting Service reported the portal was set to operate between 06:00- 23:00, with measures in place, such as camera blurring, should anyone get too locations for similar portals were also planned for Barre Grane in Brazil, Manila in the Philippines, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Addis Ababa in Ipswich Conservation and Design Panel had objected to the proposals due to concerns the portal would block the view into the Cornhill from Lloyds Avenue, which was subject to existing planning consent for a major £1.4 million revamp. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ipswich hotel may not be restored to former use, says owner
A developer has said an empty town centre hotel will need substantial investment before it can be used Howard, who has purchased the Great White Horse Hotel in Ipswich, said it would be a "real challenge" to restore the building to its former said he was "open to ideas" for its future and admitted it may not reopen as a Howard said he hoped the empty shop units on the ground floor would be occupied by tenants within a year. The Great White Horse Hotel was open as recently as 2024, but appeared to close at short High Street facing part of the building was previously home to a major cafe chain and outdoor equipment shop, but the units have been empty for more than five was once known as the town's main lodging house and even welcomed Charles Dickens; helping to inspire his novel, The Pickwick Papers. In 2024, the Great White Horse Hotel community interest company (CIC) was awarded £99,400 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for renovation Howard said he would not be working with the CIC in the future, but invited "anybody in the community whose interested" to be involved. He has been involved in a number of other developments in Ipswich, having bought The Mill for £1 in Howard was also involved in the "wine rack" development, which was eventually turned into flats. Mr Howard said the building was looking "very sad for itself" and that he was keen to bring it back in to purchased the site from an investment company. "It's sat here for so long, it's got so many memories for so many people," he told the BBC."We really need to get this occupied."The hotel is listed as a Grade II* building by Historic Howard said he was hoping to work with Ipswich Borough Council and said he "might well need some support from the local authority to get it up and running again".Ipswich Borough Council was contacted for comment. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
