Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

What do we need to change?
The spatial response
Haven Gateway sub-region
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Constraints
• modelling work highlights a potential challenge in delivering quality jobs
and growth targets particularly across the Suffolk part of the gateway
• there is a need to create a more enterprising local economy. Current
rates of new business formation are relatively low within the Ipswich
area compared both to the East of England and elsewhere in the
Haven Gateway
• as the population grows, the issues relating to the economic vibrancy
of town centres will need to be addressed
• housing completions are currently projected to exceed annual targets
but in later years may slow down and fall behind
• there is a potential lack of high-quality employment land availability
particularly in and around Colchester
• a number of coastal towns are in need of regeneration with pockets of
severe deprivation including in relation to labour market participation
• water resources are predicted to become increasingly stretched
whilst, at the same time, the risk of coastal flooding will threaten parts
of the area.
Strategic ambitions
• development of a next-generation 30-acre science-based business
park at Martlesham, with the real potential both to create over
1,100 high-value jobs and provide future stability in the sector
• expand the international port functions of Haven Gateway, including
expansions at Felixstowe South and Bathside Bay
• carry out major reinvention of city and town centres, including Ipswich
waterfront, East Colchester, Harwich and regeneration priorities such
as Jaywick
• develop cultural infrastructure of national and regional significance,
such as an International Centre of Excellence for Classical Music at
Aldeburgh, firstsite:newsite visual arts facility in Colchester and
DanceEast as part of the Cranfield Mill development in Ipswich
• strengthen the research excellence and resultant commercialisation at
the University of Essex through the development of Colchester
Research Park and increased knowledge transfer activity
• improve capacity and address constraints on strategic road and rail
routes connecting the Haven Gateway to national markets, including
the Felixstowe-Nuneaton rail route, Great Eastern main line, A12, A120
and A14
• preserve and enhance the sub-region's landscape and biodiversity
• continue to develop University Campus Suffolk as a driver of a highly
skilled workforce and applied research in the sub-region.