Ipswich Borough Council has confirmed that works to upgrade the St Matthews Street Gateway and Civic Drive will get under way on 6 April.

Backed by the Government's Local Regeneration Fund (formerly the Towns Fund), the scheme will enhance this key approach to the town centre, creating a more welcoming setting for residents, businesses and visitors.

The programme will see the rusted, damaged railings on the St Matthews Street and Civic Drive roundabouts fully replaced, providing a durable finish and a tidier, more consistent appearance at this busy gateway.

Lighting will also be improved, with 20 lamp columns across the two roundabouts and central reservations being renewed. Four of the new columns at the St Matthews Street roundabout will be planted to support greening in the area.

Brickwork along the central reservations — from St Matthews Street to Hyde Park Corner, and from St Matthews Street roundabout to the Wolsey Theatre roundabout — will be repaired, and spaces replanted with bulbs to create seasonal colour. The changes are intended to boost local biodiversity and offer a greener, more pleasant route into the town centre.

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Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, said: "We have started to see real signs of progress in Ipswich over the past 18 months, and these improvements to St Matthews Street and Civic Drive are another good step forwards as we work to revive our town and restore a sense of pride in our local area.

"Investing in better lighting, new railings and greener planting will improve how this key gateway into the town centre looks and feels for residents, visitors and businesses. It will create a more welcoming environment and make everyday journeys through Ipswich more pleasant."

Acting as the accountable body for the Local Regeneration Fund, Ipswich Borough Council is already overseeing a range of projects. These include £8 million to bring empty town-centre properties back into use; a £1 million scheme enabling extensive external restoration of the historic Old Post Office on The Cornhill, now The Botanist Bar & Restaurant; the revitalisation of the long-vacant Grimwades building, now home to Jamaica Blue and Lovisa; and a £1.92 million investment, led by Brighten The Corners, to convert the former St Matthew’s Baths into a Creative Digital Skills Lab.

Further activity covers improvements to 28 shopping parades across Ipswich — such as car park resurfacing, new litter bins and benches — a £2.28m grant for the CLAY 1A visitor attraction and a £1.14m grant to 4YP for a new youth hub, both reusing empty buildings on the Waterfront, and the Innovative Digital Ipswich programme showcasing local heritage through technologies including augmented and virtual reality, live‑streamed public art and interactive storytelling.

Greener Ipswich and Public Realm Improvement schemes are also under way to enhance biodiversity, support a more sustainable environment and create green routes in the town centre, including trails from Lloyds Avenue to the Waterfront. Enhancements to Lloyds Avenue will bring seating, spill‑out areas for businesses and additional green space. Collectively, these initiatives aim to strengthen Ipswich’s economic resilience, increase footfall, support local businesses and enrich public spaces.