Leiston Town Centre Masterplan

LDA Design were commissioned by East Suffolk Council, who worked in partnership with the Leiston Place Board, consisting of Leiston Town Council, Leiston Community Land Trust, Sizewell C Limited, Leiston Long Shop Museum, and Suffolk County Council.

The Leiston Town Centre Masterplan includes improvements to public spaces, better connectivity between key locations, and enhanced cycling and walking routes. The document has been created to identify redevelopment opportunities in Leiston that could be brought forward over the next 10 to 15 years to help attract investment.

The Masterplan has identified 12 key principles which set out a clear vision for the town, informed by local communities and stakeholders, as well as 9 key sites identified to provide a framework for future development.

Leiston is a working town with a close-knit community which boasts significant historic and cultural assets and an attractive nearby coastline. A prosperous town centre will be an essential cornerstone to Leiston’s appeal as a place to live, work, visit and have fun, with considerable potential for regeneration.

Leiston Market Square Engagement

In 2023 East Suffolk Council (ESC) commissioned a masterplan framework to inform and better co-ordinate all wider regeneration activities in Leiston in the coming ten to fifteen years.

The masterplan framework acknowledged many of the existing opportunities in Leiston and included a vision for the town with overarching principles that enable existing and future regeneration opportunities to be progressed in a coherent way.

A key output of the document was a masterplan for the town centre, which brings together indicative proposals for nine sites in the town centre including Market Square.

Market Square, inc. 16 – 22a Sizewell Road

The site south of Sizewell Road is one of the pivotal sites for regeneration activities in Leiston town centre.

This site comprises three land ownerships: the western parcel owned by Telereal Trillium, BT and Royal Mail; the central parcel owned by ESC; and a narrow strip of land along the eastern edge owned by a private landholder.

Following the 2024 feasibility study, which explored opportunities for regeneration on the site, East Suffolk Council is now progressing with Phase 1 of the Market Square project, focusing on land it owns. The site brings together a distinctive mix of properties at 16–22a Sizewell Road, adjoining land to the rear—including garages and workshops accessed from Eastward Ho—the High Street car park, and a former builders’ yard, creating a substantial opportunity for regeneration in a highly accessible town‑centre location.

Community engagement formed a key part of the feasibility work, helping to shape the early direction of the project. More recently, the project architects, IF_DO, have undertaken engagement sessions with students at Alde Valley High School to better understand what young people feel is important for the future of Leiston.

Further engagement with the wider community is planned in the coming weeks. During this next stage, the council will share more information on how the design for Market Square has developed and will provide opportunities for residents and stakeholders to take part in co-design activities.

If you would like to get in touch with East Suffolk Council regarding the project, please email: leistonregeneration@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.