What should happen when Debenhams is demolished?

The former Debenhams store in Ipswich is due to be demolished after the local authority spent millions buying the long-term empty building.

Ipswich Borough Council has made considerable investment in the Cornhill area of the town but Waterloo House, which housed the department store for decades, has been a very visible eyesore since it was sold in 2021.

After it was emptied of all the old Debenhams stock and displays, it stood vacant, with metal railings running along Ipswich's main pedestrianised shopping street.

The Labour-run council is spending £5.5m, from a government grant, to buy the building and then knock it down - but what do local people make of the move?

Jenny Scrivener and her husband Michael said they did not expect changes to happen soon.

"Just because they bought it, how long do you think it's just going to stand there empty? Still could be a long time," they said.

The council said it hoped to start demolition work in early 2027.

Michael Ranson runs an open-air market stall close to the former department store. He said he was surprised the council had bought it.

"Lots of people come to my stall and [criticise] Ipswich... because there's no decent shops any more and everything is shutting down," he said.

Ranson said he would like to see an indoor area for the market and more shops.

Andrew McFarlane said: "It's about time they did something with it - it's been too long."

He said he would like to see more shops replacing the building as "lots of shops are shutting down right now".

The council is using a portion of the £25m it was awarded from the government's Towns Fund - now part of the wider Local Regeneration Fund pot - in 2021.

Terry Baxter previously sat on the board that allocated the government grants in Ipswich. He said it was "vital" that buildings like Waterloo House were brought back into use.

"You're not going to get developers to come in and do it off their own back, so you need the local authority to use money that has been put there to do this, to regenerate the town centre," said the former BBC Radio Suffolk presenter.

He said he would like to see a mix of housing and retail on the site.

John Howard is a building developer who has overseen redevelopment of other troubled sites in Ipswich, including the Wine Rack.

He said the council's purchase was an "exciting move".

He believed the back part of the building should be knocked down for residential properties that could be linked up with a project on the adjoining Lloyds Avenue.

That street, currently a dead-end road with a taxi rank, is soon to undergo major work to make it more friendly for pedestrians.

Howard said the council should have bought Waterloo House previously.

"If they bought it in the first place, I'm sure it would have been a bit cheaper. But you live and die by your decisions don't you?" he said.

The Suffolk Preservation Society describes itself as an organisation that wants to "ensure that our precious historic buildings and landscapes are preserved and given contemporary purpose".

Director Tom Foakes said: "As High Streets have changed, not just in Suffolk but nationally, there is genuine opportunity to rethink how people are drawn into town centres, and such a central location has an important role to play in the regeneration of Ipswich as a visitor destination."

Leader of the Conservative group at the council, Ian Fisher, said: "The purchase of the old Debenhams building is a great strategic investment in our town and something that is welcomed, but long overdue.

"Having seen all the financial numbers I am unsure if the council has budgeted enough for the redevelopment."

Reform UK councillor Tony Gould, leader of the opposition at the council, described the decision as "a staggeringly reckless use of public money".

Lee Walker, chief executive of the Ipswich Central business improvement district group, said: "The proof of success will ultimately be in what comes next in terms of the future use of this space and the role it can once again play in the heart of Ipswich.

"Getting to this point required someone to step forward. The council deserves real credit for doing exactly that — taking control of a building that has stood vacant for far too long and unlocking the opportunity for its next chapter."

In July, before the council took the building into public hands, a group of young people told the BBC what they would like to see happen to the empty store.

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