Felixstowe residents have been given the chance to vote for their favourite name for a proposed beach village after planning application is submitted.

East Suffolk Council is looking to improve the beach hut experience in Felixstowe and has submitted a planning application for a proposed new beach village on the town's South Seafront.

The proposals include five accessible, purpose-built pods, 27 traditional huts and a new public convenience block with Changing Places facilities. The existing trim trial will be moved to the current volleyball site, which will be re-landscaped and made into an activity park. As part of this, the existing equipment will be upgraded and additional facilities installed, including concrete table tennis tables, a petanque piste, 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.

Alongside this, the Council is also considering possible names for the site and asked local people for suggestions during a public consultation which ended in March 2021. The top five suggestions have now been selected and local people are invited to vote for their favourite in a new survey before 5pm on 30 July 2021.

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.

"Like towns across the country, Felixstowe has struggled during the pandemic with more people staying at home and less visitors to the town. However, we're confident that we have a bright future ahead and we're committed to increasing the tourism opportunities and facilities in Felixstowe to attract both local people and visitors, supporting economic growth and providing new employment opportunities.

"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."

Full details of the application are on the Public Access planning portal on East Suffolk Council's website – reference DC/21/2444/FUL – and is open for consultation, ahead of being considered by the Planning Committee.