Ipswich to become a 15 minute town.

Lessons for the Guildford Town Centre Masterplan

Ipswich is aiming to become UK’s first truly ‘connected town centre’, a progression of the internationally recognised model known as the ’15-minute city’.  

The 15-minute city is the concept that residents should be within 15 minutes of the facilities and workplaces essential to their daily lives. Ipswich are adapting this for use in a major town.

The BBC has highlighted how this concept is gaining traction in various large cities.

Arup the international consultants have two interesting articles on the subject, the Designing for 15 minute neighbourhood, and future proofing our cities.

The town has a vision that could apply to Guildford. 

Plans for Ipswich include a significant growth in the number of people living in the town centre with plans for  new housing development on unused sites and by converting redundant buildings and empty upper floors. Steps will be taken to encourage and support more urban living, by introducing e uses that will encourage people to live and stay locally. These might include schools and educational facilities, a music venue, an outdoor gym, and more green areas, cycling and walking routes.

Ipswich plans also supports a realisation that new forms of hybrid working will involve a greater dependency upon local amenities. Commuters to London may increasingly work more from home. Ipswich Centre should also be seen as a destination for people staying locally and choosing Ipswich and Suffolk as a place to visit.