A £1.92m grant from the Ipswich Towns Fund has been awarded by Ipswich Borough Council to Brighten The Corners (BTC) to transform The Baths into a major cultural and digital skills centre. The regeneration is being delivered by BTC in partnership with the Council and supported by Ipswich Vision and the Town Deal Board.

The scheme will breathe new life into the historic site, which has served as St Mathews swimming baths, a social club, a gym and, more recently, a pop-up live music venue. Now known as The Baths, the venue will undergo extensive upgrades to realise its next chapter as a creative powerhouse for the town.

The currently unused first floor will be turned into a Creative Digital Skills Lab, featuring video production, live recording and podcast suites. Due to launch in 2027, the facility will offer courses, workshops, training and business development support for local businesses, creative entrepreneurs and community groups.

A state-of-the-art Extended Reality (XR) studio will provide hands-on experience with immersive technologies. With only one other publicly accessible XR studio of its kind in the UK, the new Lab is expected to attract national interest and help position Ipswich as a hub for innovation.

Plans also include significant improvements to the ground-floor music venue, strengthening the platform for local and touring artists and supporting the town's night-time economy.

A comprehensive programme of workshops, skills development and volunteering will be available once the regeneration is complete, spanning XR design and film-making, post-production and editing, audio recording and digital photography.

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The refurbishment will create new full-time and freelance opportunities. The wider town centre is expected to benefit from increased footfall, dwell time and spend, particularly from young people, many of whom will arrive via the Tower Ramparts and Old Cattle Market public transport hubs.

Joe Bailey, CEO at Brighten The Corners, said: "We're beyond delighted to have been awarded this game changing Towns Fund grant from Ipswich Borough Council. Our town has so many incredible cultural organisations, innovative businesses, community groups and talented young people that are doing amazing work and we hope they will all benefit from this space. Our ambition is to help connect and inspire the next generation of creative talent, and we intend to work closely with communities and businesses to ensure this happens.

"So many people we speak to have fond memories of The Baths, from swimming there in their youth to seeing legendary acts like Led Zeppelin back in the 70s. It's fantastic to be able to bring this iconic site back to life as a cultural and creative hub that will benefit the town for decades to come."

Chair of Ipswich Vision and Town Deal Board, David Ralph, said: "This is exactly what Ipswich Vision is all about – forward-thinking and focusing on how the town will transform in the coming months and years. We already know what a great place Ipswich is, and this project will ensure the next generation can put down roots, achieve more and enjoy being part of shaping the area for their lives ahead."

Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader for Ipswich Borough Council, said: "The transformation of The Baths will breathe new life into this venue, representing a significant cultural and economic investment in Ipswich. This project will not only provide fantastic entertainment opportunities but also equip local people with the digital skills needed for the future. We are proud to support an initiative that strengthens our town's vibrant cultural identity and offers real career pathways for young people."

Jack Abbott MP said: "This is such exciting news for Ipswich – the town already has a great range of destinations for live music, attracting people from neighbouring towns and cities, but I'm especially pleased to see something which focuses on young people too, supporting a brighter future for them and creating better chances of local jobs, and enhancing Ipswich's cultural offer at the same time. This will help pave the way to success in our bid for Ipswich as a City of Culture."

BTC will run targeted focus groups across the town and host a community drop-in event early next year to share more details of the plans. Construction is due to begin in late Spring 2026, with doors opening in early Spring 2027.