Basepoint Breaks Ground in Ipswich
It’s all systems go in Ipswich after a turf-cutting ceremony was held on 15 May to mark the beginning of the construction process for the new 3,000 sq metre Basepoint centre at Ransomes Europark.
This ground-breaking ceremony was one of the first official engagements for new Ipswich mayor David Hale, whom Basepoint invited to celebrate the start of work on the centre, which will provide a choice of 93 self-contained units ranging in size from 10 to 300 square metres. As with other centres, the Ipswich Basepoint will be fully managed with a reception area and a full range of business support provided on site. It is conveniently located for local transport and communications, and will enjoy excellent access to the east—west A14 trunk road leading to the city of Felixstowe, which recently launched a new port expansion plan. Phil Stansfield, Basepoint developments executive director, said: “This is our twenty-second Basepoint centre and the first of several in the east of England, with Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge following on from Ipswich. We are excited to have chosen Ipswich as our first location in the region, especially with it being one of the UK’s fastest growing urban areas.” New Ipswich mayor David Hale said: “We have some challenging targets for Ipswich in regard to housing and population growth over the next decade. By 2021 around 30,000 new jobs will have been created, confirming Ipswich’s position as the fastest growing regional centre in the east. To help us achieve these targets, we welcome working with companies such as Basepoint. In this instance it means fresh investment into the town, the growth of existing businesses...and the birth of new enterprises within the centre itself.” The new Ipswich Basepoint business centre is expected to be up and running before the end of the year. It is the first in a new development phase which heralds the establishment of seven more new centres in Winchester, Bristol, Exeter, Evesham, Sidcup, Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge – all of which are at various stages of the planning or construction process.