Work to convert the former police station site in Ipswich’s Elm Street into a car park is now under way and it is due to open by the end of next month.

Ipswich council has permission to operate the land as a car park for up to 65 vehicles until the end of April 2018 – and has now started to level the site before laying down a hard surface.

The police station was demolished last year - see here

Borough council leader David Ellesmere said that although the car park would be temporary, it would be high quality – not a “bomb site” car park like some others created on vacant land near the town centre.

The borough hopes that eventually the former police station site will be joined to the neighbouring Civic Centre site, owned by Charterhouse LLP, to allow a comprehensive redevelopment of the area.

If those plans are not ready to be brought forward by April 2018, the borough may try to get an extension to the temporary planning permission.

The car park will be particularly useful next year when the Crown Car Park is out of action for several months to allow the construction of a new 500-space multi-storey park on that site.

Charterhouse LLP has recently created another temporary car park on the site of the Civic Centre – a park that is especially popular with theatre-goers heading to the New Wolsey.

Ipswich council leader David Ellesmere said: “This new park will be a welcome addition to the town centre.”