About £800,000 to be allocated for new education centre

The project is being led by Ipswich Borough Council as part of its wider town centre regeneration programme and will be delivered in partnership with Suffolk New College. According to the BBC, the centre could open as early as May and is expected to welcome its first students in September.

Under the proposal, the first floor of the Grimwades building on Cornhill will be redeveloped to create a learning hub where adults can develop skills and improve their job prospects.

Council leader Neil MacDonald described the project as a “significant investment in the future”. He said it was encouraging to see different uses for buildings in the town centre and added that the initiative would help future-proof the community by providing services that meet people’s needs.

However, Conservative opposition leader Ian Fisher previously argued that other options for the building should also have been explored.

The Grimwades building had been vacant since 2012 and its condition had gradually deteriorated before it was purchased by the Labour-run council last year. Since then, the ground floor has been brought back into use with the opening of the Jamaica Blue restaurant, which also features outdoor seating.

Funding for the new education centre will come from the government’s Local Regeneration Fund. Suffolk New College will carry out the necessary work to ensure the space meets the needs of learners.

The college’s principal, Alan Pease, described the project as “a fantastic step” in helping adults gain the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing job market.

Ipswich Vision and Town Deal Board chair David Ralph said the new learning centre would have a “long-lasting impact” on both the local economy and communities.

Meanwhile, Jack Abbott said the project would create new opportunities for residents while bringing an unused town centre building back into active use.