Wavensmere Homes and Galliard Homes (Haylink Limited) have received the green light from Babergh District Council to redevelop the remaining phases of the 58-acre Barrelman’s Point development on the Shotley Peninsula in Ipswich, Suffolk.
The £130million project is bringing about the restoration and redevelopment of the former HMS Ganges Royal Naval Training Establishment (RNTE) which has been derelict for 46 years.
Barrelman’s Point is located in the Shotley Gate Conservation Area at the southern end of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB. The newly approved plans will preserve and reanimate three listed structures, two scheduled ancient monuments and two further non-designated heritage assets. The original extant planning application for the site was approved in 2015, followed by a subsequent approval in 2020 for amendments to the phase one design. 50% of the 81 homes within phase one of the coastal development are now occupied, comprising two to five-bedroom houses.
James Dickens, managing director at Wavensmere Homes, said: “We are thrilled to receive approval for our replan of the 58-acre former HMS Ganges site from Babergh District Council. Redeveloping this site is a huge task and responsibility. There is so much history to celebrate, alongside the significant opportunity to deliver outstanding new homes and community facilities. The naval base was out of bounds for nearly half a century, and there has been much to consider as we continue investing millions of pounds to inject a new lease of life into this highly scenic part of the Shotley Peninsula.”
“Key aspects of the work we can now undertake include the preservation of the Grade II listed former military swimming pool, which we will transform into an indoor racquets centre for community use. A new purpose-built care village with 75 apartments across five two-and-a-half-storey buildings will best respond to the sector requirements. While, Vincent House – formerly an Officers’ Mess – will be vertically split into townhouses and a six-bedroom boutique offering, whereas the original plan was for a 60-bedroom hotel.”
Ben Clarke, technical director for Wavensmere Homes, said: “Having completed the painstaking restoration of the Grade II listed 142ft naval mast last year, the Barrelman’s Point restoration and build programme will enable us to extend the design language evident across the first phase of houses. We are immensely proud to be reanimating this atmospheric site and welcome prospective purchasers to visit, explore how the development is taking shape, and choose their preferred home design and plot.”
More than 160,000 Navy recruits passed through the gates of the HMS Ganges training base until its closure in June 1976 and the symbolic mast is the best-known landmark across the entire Shotley Peninsula. Made of iron, steel, and timber, it dates back to 1865, and was erected in 1907 where HMS Ganges, a 74-gun 18th-century ship had stood before retiring to Chatham Dockyard in Kent two years prior. A ceremony took place in mid-2022 to commemorate the last time the mast was manned, which was on 6th June 1974. All sections of the mast were then taken down and restored by specialists, except for the lower steel section.
The revised plans for Barrelman’s Point were drawn up by nationally acclaimed architects Franklin Ellis.
Matthew Branton, managing director of Franklin Ellis Architects, said: “We have designed the 303 houses to complement the vast open spaces and new amenity provision that this special development will provide for future residents and those already living in Shotley. The historic Nelson Hall – a former drill hall – will also be restored and redeveloped to create a potential public library facility, meeting hall, and large café space. A convenience store, co-working office space, crèche and museum are also planned.”
The amenities for residents’ use across the 58-acre development will be privately managed, alongside several landscaped public open spaces, new biodiverse meadow planting, tree-lined avenues and children’s play areas.
