This is how many residents of Ipswich like to think of their home: A quiet market town in the sleepy county of Suffolk, where not much happens except umm-ing and arr-ing over the price of corn. It's not really been like that since about 1850, but nevertheless there's been much tutting and murmering over the following scary things:
During the economic boom bucketloads of flats got put up, and seem to still be going up. This sent people of a certain age into paroxysms of 'tsk' 'tsk'-ing, eye-rolling, and head-shaking. Apparently, Londoners wanted somewhere to park their boat, so they put up stacks of yuppie pads far out of reach of most local people, beyond their budget: which is about £5, 9 shillings and 12 cowrie shells. The tallest building is called Cranfield Mill, or 'The Mill', and it is supposed to have among other things: a dance school and theatre.
The other two towers and converted factories are a development called Regatta Quay. There's never actually been a regatta on the river Orwell as far as I know, but it certainly does look swanky.
This is the other side of the current main waterfront. Ipswich is a freshwater port. This 'wet dock' was the largest purpose built river port in the world when it was completed in 1842. Further round there is still a working goods and container port, which deals with smaller vessels who find it cheaper to off-load up-river than at Felixstowe on the coast.
This is the Ipswich hub of a new University called University Campus Suffolk. This means that young people will be coming to Ipswich and scaring the locals, or even worse: That local yoofs might actually stay in the town rather than running away immediately to somewhere where they have shapes and colours.
This is the back of Neptune Marina, a block of top notch swank pads.
This is Axa, they have refurbished one of their buildings so it's nice and shiny. On the right is another block of flats going up on the other side of the river.
-which is connected to the town by this bridge.
Churchman's old cigarette factory converted on the left.
Ipswich Borough Council's new premises.
Suffolk County Council's new premises, which was supposed to be the headquarters of TXU Energy, but they went bust, so the council got a bargain.
A re-clad 1960's tower on the left.
The Crown Court. Shiny metal.
Most of this was all planned and embarked upon during the good times. There was loads more planned and I hope the recession doesn't last too long because I want MORE!