Wellbeing Pharmacy, the company that owns Orchard Street pharmacy, has been granted planning permission to open a new site in Blanche Street.
This comes as their arrangement with Orchard Street Medical Centre is set to end in the coming weeks.
Planning agent Jonathan Lainchbury stated at Ipswich Borough Council’s planning meeting this Wednesday that the Blanche Street site replace the Orchard Street site rather than add to it.
He said: “The space [Orchard Street] will revert to the surgery for other uses. The allocation of pharmacies is dictated by the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment published by Suffolk County Council, and according to the latest draft, the PNA for Ipswich is full with no new or unserved need.”
The proposal to convert 2 Blanche Street, which is currently used for leafleting, encountered resistance from residents.
Residents and councillors raised concerns over parking as well as the fact that there is currently a pharmacy hundreds of metres away.
However, the Blanche Street proposal was approved on Wednesday after councillors were made aware that the Orchard Street site will close.