Plans for a new 185-space car park for the Portman Road Stadium have been approved, with provisions for football club and hotel use.
Ipswich Town FC, with agents Boyer Planning, submitted the proposals to Ipswich Borough Council in February to use a space made empty after Staples and Better Gym left the site in May 2023.
The space has provisions for 185 vehicles, with 118 of them being for long-stay public use, which will be used for a period of seven years.
Ahead of the meeting, the plans were recommended for approval by the officers, and the councillors approved with seven votes in favour and five against.
Adam Rae raised concerns over the traffic in the area on matchdays, and he fears this may add more issues along the roads.
Carole Jones, meanwhile, said that while she understands the need for the car park for the Travelodge and the club, 118 spaces could be used by the club to generate income.
She said: “There are 118 car parking spaces for public use, and so what we are mostly being asked to approve here is a kind of business for income-generating private car parking on this site.”
Of the rest, 118 would be available for long-stay public use, including 6 disabled parking bays.
The club’s staff, outside media personnel and broadcasters would have access to 50 spaces in the car park – initial plans had provisions for 55 vehicles, but this has since been reduced.
Meanwhile, the existing Portman Road car park is going to be taken up by the council’s project for a new aquatics centre.
