Grade II listed mural delays plans for new school

Plans for the new school were originally approved in 2021 but no work has started on the site

A Grade II listed mural has delayed plans for a new school, it has emerged.

A proposal for the new primary school to replace the Edwardian Co-op building in Ipswich was first announced in 2017 and was given the go-ahead in 2021.

Developers hoped to demolish the existing building on Carr Street but almost three years later no work has taken place.

A spokesperson for Department for Education said it planned to preserve the mural which has caused the delay.

An application has been submitted to the council to vary the original approval

The mural, located above the Cox Lane walkway to Carr Street, was designed by Gyula Bajó and Endre Hevezi.

It was installed between 1963 and 1964 before being given listed status in April 2023.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said this had "impacted the delivery programme for the school".

"We are working closely with stakeholders to develop the new primary school in Ipswich," they added.

"This includes preserving the Grade II listed mosaic mural."

Ipswich Borough Council said a "live application to vary the original approval" is currently being considered and there would be no further comment at this time.

Plans for the new school include a multi-use games area on the roof of the building

Original plans for the building include replacing it with a two-storey primary school, with capacity for 420 students and a nursery for 26.

A multi-use games area has been planned for the roof with a further open space for outdoor teaching proposed for land adjacent to Unity Street and Upper Orwell Street.

In the approved planning application it was concluded the proposal was "acceptable on the balance having regard to the loss of the heritage asset and in terms of its replacement with a well designed and sustainable building".

The free school could be run by the Active Learning Trust which already operates four schools in the town.