Brightwell Lakes, Ipswich

Brightwell Lakes is a major new community at Martlesham, close to Ipswich, with outline planning permission approved in April 2018 for a sustainable development of 2,000 homes over 279 acres, delivered in phases including an all-through school and local centre.

Our Role

Brookbanks played a central role in supporting the project through a fully integrated, multidisciplinary approach. By bringing together expertise across transport and highways, flood risk and drainage, utilities, and environmental disciplines, the team ensured that key technical considerations were aligned from the outset. This coordinated approach enabled the scheme to progress efficiently from early design stages through to planning consent, with a strong emphasis on deliverability and certainty.

Key areas of involvement included:

Transport Assessment
Traffic Modelling
Highway Design
Flood Risk and Drainage Strategy
Utilities Infrastructure Planning
Noise and Vibration Assessments
Air Quality Analysis
Ground Conditions Assessment
Infrastructure Cost Planning
Project Coordination
Planning Application Support

Brookbanks’ integrated delivery ensured that all technical workstreams were managed cohesively, reducing risk, resolving constraints early, and supporting a clear and robust planning submission.

The Outcome

A significant achievement of the project was the agreement of a comprehensive and holistic transport solution. This included approximately £8 million of strategic improvements to the A12 and A14 corridors, designed to accommodate future growth and maintain network performance.

Crucially, Brookbanks secured approval on transportation and highway design matters with both Suffolk County Council and Highways England within just 12 months from submission to outline consent. This efficient programme demonstrated strong collaboration between stakeholders and a high level of technical confidence in the proposals.

Why This Project Stands Out

Brightwell Lakes is a standout example of One Brookbanks in action, showcasing how a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach can unlock complex developments at scale. The scheme involved significant challenges, including its position on the edge of Ipswich and the need to interface with major strategic highways infrastructure.

The project has also received independent industry recognition for its quality and impact, including:

Best UK Scheme (500+ homes) – Planning Awards 2019
RTPI East of England Award for Planning Excellence – 2018

Overall, Brightwell Lakes demonstrates how strong technical integration, clear strategic thinking, and effective stakeholder engagement can successfully deliver large-scale, sustainable communities.