Town have applied to Ipswich Borough Council for planning permission for work to be undertaken at Portman Road including alterations to the corner between the Sir Alf Ramsey and Cobbold Stands, the installation of a big screen and changes to the dugouts.

The application had been expected with developments to Portman Road having been outlined by the new owners since last April’s takeover.

The demolition of part of the corner at the south-east of the ground is required to facilitate access for the installation of a new Desso surface [a hybrid natural grass artificial fibre pitch] with entry routes currently limited to the tunnel area.

It is a project being led by chairman Mike O’Leary and, speaking at a fans’ forum in November, he said it was progressing well.

“At the moment, our dugouts are too adjacent and could lead to interesting moments,” O’Leary joked.

“We’re looking to slightly realign the positioning of the dugouts. But the crux of it is that the most important first step that we have to take is to punch a hole in the corner of the ground here to allow trucks to get in and out because until we can do that, we can’t bring anything inside that we need to produce the new pitch or to put the undersoil heating in when we do that too.

“Of course, having decided that that was the first step, we then discovered that we couldn’t do it without planning permission.

“We have to first of all get planning permission and build regs approval for punching a hole in the corner of the stadium at the far end of the Cobbold Stand in the corner.

“Secondly, we’re planning where we will put a big screen in that corner. It’s got to be a suitable height for everyone to be able to see it and it’s got to be at a suitable height for us to get articulated vehicles in beneath it.

“We also have a challenge of dealing with a very high voltage cable that travels across that corner, which happens to feed the floodlights. So, we’ve got to be a little bit careful we don’t do damage to that.

“And we have to deal with drainage because the new generation pitches of the type that we’re looking to put in actually drain considerably more quickly than the traditional pitch that we have today, which gives us an issue of where the water run-off goes.

“So there’s lots of detail behind the scenes going on. Our intention is to meet again in about two or three weeks from today to look at where we are in a number of key steps.

“First of all approaching the local authority about planning approval. Secondly, appointing a contractor to lead the process for us and thirdly, starting to think about where the other peripheral pieces all fit in that overall plan.

“It’s possible that we won’t get all of this done in the close season that we’re coming up to in May/June [2022] but that’s at the moment our goal. Our goal is to do the whole thing with many of the tasks being done in parallel rather than sequentially.

“We’ve made good progress and I’m very pleased to say I think the architects are doing us a very sound job in helping us to set the levels and get the pitch design done properly.”

Applications usually take around eight weeks to be approved which seems likely to mean the pitch development will be delayed until the summer of 2023.

Town will be giving further information on the plans in due course.

Photo: Matchday Images

ButchersBrokenNose added 15:02 - Mar 9 This is great news and demonstrates the owners' intent to build (literally and figuratively) for the future. I wonder why Mr. Evans didn't do something similar?
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Bazza8564 added 16:23 - Mar 9 8 weeks for approval takes us to Early May which does make it tight, but I assume with the season starting early August and no absolute need of home fixtures in pre-season its not beyond the realms of possibility it could be done this summer, that's a 3 month window and the pitch, I assume would take 6 weeks maximum to lay as it is largely synthetic with a natural soil and seed overlay ?? I'm guessing a bit here but with contractors presumably standing by i'm pretty sure the new regime wont want to lose another year and who realistically is going to object to planning for what amounts to internal stadium work?

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KernewekBlue added 16:53 - Mar 9 Yes, ButchersBrokenNose... I often wonder why EVANS didn't do anything? Apart from plastering his own name and brand everywhere that could hold a sign, all over the website and all across the shirts, he did nothing. Whoops, I tell a lie... he DID do something... he got us relegated with a whimper into League One... that's what he did and it only took him 15 years of hard grind to do it. Anyway, those days are now gone... Praise The Lord!!!

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:12 - Mar 9 Wow!
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itsonlyme added 17:19 - Mar 9 Bazza I do believe the season starts around 30th July which will make it even tighter to complete.
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BaaBaaBlue added 17:19 - Mar 9 Any improvements are always welcomed.. thankfully we finally have some forward thinking owners! Unable to get a halftime beer at the game last night, because the service is SO unbelievably slow.. it's absolutely infuriating to me, and must lose the club so much needed revenue..
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BotesdaleBlue added 17:24 - Mar 9 This is great news but in a way I will leave me a little sad. If you look into that corner you will see the last few metal barriers on the old terrace that fans used to stand behind when attendances were high enough for fans to spread out into the corners close to the floodlight pylons. Those days passed a little more than 20 years ago I know, but I was there in the 1970s and this change will take away the last tiny bit of free standing area that is still recognisable from the videos of old matches shown regularly on ITV4. I used to use the old turnstile areas in that corner to, to stand on my stool in the old Churchmans too. Happy days. I know this change must happen and I very much want it to, to continue to bring Portman Road upto a higher standard that we all want, but I'm a nostalgic old sole and will just be a little sad to reflect on the passing of one physical little piece of our wonderful past.

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benfromkent added 17:26 - Mar 9 Exciting stuff! does anyone know more about this 'Desso surface', what exactly is it, do any other clubs have it? I've not heard of the term/system before, it's not a fully 'plastic' pitch by the sounds of it? How does it work does anyone know? But like I say, exciting times - it's finally starting to feel great to be a Town fan again!
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Bluearmy_81 added 17:48 - Mar 9 BBN, why Mr Evans?! What respect does he deserve? He very nearly killed YOUR club. Its taking years to repair the damage he did. He didn't invest in the club sufficiently for years. That tells you all you need to know about why. 5 point plans were great for the gullible but actions speak louder than words.
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SamWhiteUK added 17:57 - Mar 9 Benfromkent, I believe I read that numerous PL sides use Desso pitches, it is top tier stuff
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Cakeman added 18:18 - Mar 9 Really pleased about the future developments but am disappointed to read that the pitch revamp may not be possible until the Summer of 2023. One of the first issues identified by our owners as requiring attention was the replacement of our fast deteriorating pitch so why has it taken many months to submit planning permission?
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Mark added 18:56 - Mar 9 I am really glad Portman Road is being developed after years of neglect. I hope we don't introduce those bright electronic advertising boards which flash and show animated images throughout the match. Some clubs even have two layers of those now, which must be very distracting for fans in the stadium. I like to focus on the football, not betting adverts.
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BurleysGloryDays added 19:47 - Mar 9 Fantastic news. Come on Council - pull fingers out. 8 weeks too long and you don't want to be in the way of considered progress and investment for and in the area.
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alfromcol added 19:47 - Mar 9 benfromkent like everything else today, put the words to Google she/he and it will tell you everything you need to know!
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ButchersBrokenNose added 20:29 - Mar 9 Blue Army: irony clearly isn't your strong point.
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parhamblue added 21:51 - Mar 9 Best thing to do to test the safety of the cable and floodlights is line up 5,000 Celtic fans and wait for them to pee down Portman Road. It worked before. https://thecelticstar.com/floodlight-failure-flute-bands-alan-hunters-testimonia I didn't think they were at Churchmans end BTW.
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Westy added 23:01 - Mar 9 Great to see the stadium being upgraded after years of neglect but I can't understand the logic of a big screen - what actual purpose do they serve when everyone is there to witness the action first hand.
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Monkey_Blue added 12:02 - Mar 10 Ultimately I guess it's the Cobbold stand that needs replacing but I'm sure that's pencilled in for further down the line assuming the club progresses on the lovely new pitch. Those of you asking why Evans didn't do it… perhaps because it was HIS money as opposed to a pension funds money. Slightly easier to be ambitious and speculate with other peoples cash.
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RIPbobby added 13:29 - Mar 10 New pitch yes, big screen no. People come to Portman Road to watch the match through their eyes not through the eyes of a camera.
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warfarinman69 added 16:54 - Mar 10 Sorry Benfromkent I didn't mean to mark you down. Arthritis in hands I am afraid. Completely agree, it's a good feeling being a Town fan these days.
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Ipswich1977 added 19:54 - Mar 10 Mark, electronic advertising will be happening but it won't go all the way around the pitch due to only being covered by the cameras from certain areas.
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warno added 23:45 - Mar 10 Mark - I believe that the electronic advertising along the sides of the pitch is compulsory in the Ptrmier League - better get used to it.......
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