New beach village for Felixstowe gets the go-ahead


As part of ongoing investment, a new beach village is set to be built on Felixstowe’s South Seafront to improve the beach hut experience for locals and visitors. 

At a meeting of East Suffolk Council’s Planning Committee South today (Tuesday 26 October), approval was given for a new beach village on Felixstowe’s South Seafront. 

The beach village will include 5 accessible, purpose-built pods, 27 traditional huts and a new public convenience block with Changing Places facilities. The existing trim trial has been moved to Langer Park and the current volleyball site will be re-landscaped and made into an activity park. As part of this, new outdoor gym equipment will be installed, along with additional facilities, including concrete table tennis tables, a climbing wall, petanque pistes, accessible picnic benches, chess tables and outdoor space for workouts. 

The aim of the project is to create accessible facilities that enables families and groups to enjoy everything the beach and town has to offer by hiring a beach pod for a day, or longer, as well as improving facilities for local people and visitors alike with the addition of new public conveniences and an activity park. 

Cllr Craig Rivett, East Suffolk’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Economic Development said: “Beach huts are an important part of the seaside experience and East Suffolk Council is committed to making this experience more accessible to a wider range of people, allowing families and groups to access and enjoy the beach and resort for a day, or longer. 

“Tourism is incredibly important to East Suffolk and this new beach village will attract visitors from across the country, increasing footfall in the town centre, boosting the local economy and enhancing the lives of local residents. 

“The South Seafront has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years and East Suffolk Council has invested a lot in revitalising the area. We believe it is vital that we continue to build on this investment and create developments that benefits local businesses and people as well as visitors to the area.” 

Furthermore, a new name for the site has now been decided after East Suffolk Council ran a recent survey in which local people were asked to vote for their favourite names from a top five. Nearby 500 people took part and with over 30% of the votes, the new site will be named the Seashore Village. 

The development is part of a bigger project of ongoing investments in the South Seafront area, where the Martello Park has already delivered new homes, a play area and new car parking facilities. The Council has also invested in the development of a new iconic café, the refurbishment of two public shelters on the South Seafront and the long-term maintenance of its historic Martello Tower.  

Construction is expected to begin in early 2022 with completion scheduled for later in the year.