Ellisons has advised Brighten The Corners on a major regeneration project at The Baths in Ipswich, following the award of a £1.92m investment from the Ipswich Towns Fund by Ipswich Borough Council.
The project marks a new chapter for the historic venue, which has previously operated as a swimming baths, social club, gym and live music space. The investment will enable a full transformation of the building, bringing a long-unused town centre asset back into active use and supporting Ipswich’s growing creative economy.
Ellisons’ Commercial Property team, led by Partner Bethan Williams, has been advising Brighten The Corners on the legal aspects of the project, supporting the delivery of a complex, publicly funded regeneration scheme involving multiple stakeholders and long-term community objectives.
The refurbishment will include significant upgrades to the existing ground-floor music venue, alongside the creation of a Creative Digital Skills Lab on the currently unused first floor. When the space opens in Spring 2027, it will offer professional video production, live recording, content creation and podcast facilities for local businesses, creatives, community groups and young people.
A central feature of the development will be a state-of-the-art Extended Reality (XR) studio, incorporating LED screens, camera tracking and real-time rendering technology. With only one other publicly accessible XR studio of its kind in the UK, the facility is expected to attract national attention and help position Ipswich as a hub for creative and digital innovation.
The completed scheme is expected to create new full-time and freelance roles, alongside a wide programme of training, workshops, skills development and volunteering opportunities. Wider benefits to the town centre are anticipated through increased footfall and engagement, particularly among younger people travelling from nearby transport hubs.
Ellisons’ involvement in the project builds on its existing Premium Partnership with Brighten The Corners, reflecting the firm’s long-standing commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen Ipswich’s cultural, creative and economic landscape.
Bethan Williams, Partner at Ellisons, commented: “This project brings together heritage, culture and future-focused digital infrastructure in a way that will have a lasting impact on Ipswich. Advising on a regeneration scheme of this scale requires careful coordination and a clear understanding of public funding, delivery structures and long-term use. We are pleased to be supporting Brighten The Corners as they bring this ambitious vision forward.”
Joe Bailey, CEO at Brighten The Corners, added: “The Baths has always been a special place for Ipswich, and this investment allows us to bring it back to life in a way that supports creative talent, skills development and local businesses. Having Ellisons alongside us, with their strong understanding of the local context and the complexities of regeneration projects, has been invaluable as we move into this next phase.”
Construction work is expected to begin in late Spring 2026, with the new facilities scheduled to open in early Spring 2027.
- Photo (left) – Led Zeppelin performing at The Baths in 1971 – photo by Nigel Rea
- Photo (right) – Joes Bailey, Marcus Neal, Marcus Harris-Noble and Caitlin Whittaker – photo by John Ferguson