Ipswich Heritage Plan - Positive Solutions

Preserving Ipswich’s rich heritage through robust, integrated planning

THE CONTEXT

Ipswich boasts an extraordinary wealth of architectural, natural, and cultural heritage, with over 7,000 protected places, including individually listed sites, buildings in defined character areas, and historic townships in the western rural areas of the city. The heritage and character of Ipswich are sources of great pride and integral components of the city’s identity. Ipswich City Council was keen to generate an updated Heritage Plan taking into consideration conservation best practice.

THE BRIEF

Positive Solutions, in partnership with Extent Heritage, has been engaged to develop a new Heritage Plan for Ipswich City Council. Our task is to establish a comprehensive framework for the protection and promotion of Ipswich’s cultural heritage. The plan needs to recognise the importance of local history and strategic heritage management, especially within the context of urban growth and development. Our goal is to reinvigorate the existing Heritage Program and align it with the new Ipswich Plan 2024, ensuring practical guidelines for decision-making and integrating heritage with town planning, urban design, and placemaking.

OUR APPROACH

Our development of the Heritage Plan began with consultation and recommendations. We conducted an inception workshop, held consultation sessions, and developed an engagement plan. A survey report summary and document of findings including a SWOT analysis, were also provided. Through individual and group interviews and meetings, high-level stages and outcome areas for the plan were agreed, a discussion paper drafted and key stakeholder workshop facilitated. Finally, we drafted and finalised the Heritage Plan and Action Plan, incorporated feedback, confirming the table of contents and detailing implementation timelines.

THE RESULT

The development of the Heritage Plan resulted in a comprehensive framework for the protection and promotion of Ipswich’s cultural heritage. The Plan integrated heritage management with urban planning, contributing positively to local economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. It provided clear guidelines for decision-making and placed heritage at the heart of Ipswich’s community and civic identity. Our collaborative approach, involving extensive stakeholder consultation and best practice benchmarking, ensured the Heritage Plan was robust, actionable, and widely supported by the community and Council.