This in turn had led to the neglect of basis facilities, such as the Common Quay, which was no longer accessible by vessels with a draft of 8 feet or more: such vessels had to transfer their cargoes into lighters three miles downstream at Downham Reach.

In addition to building the wet dock and providing a diversion for the river Orwell along a 'New Cut' to the west of the dock the commissioners were to allow all persons, with cattle and carriages, may thereby have free access to the dock and quays and the sides of the said new cut and channel and also to contribute to the health and recreation of the inhabitants [of Ipswich].

The Ipswich Dock Commission was provided with investment of £25,000 and the right to borrow a further £100,000 but needed a further loan of £20,000 and also an additional levy of six pence per tonne on all imported coal to fund the project.

[6] The development attracted new industries to the dock area such as the coprolite factory founded by Edward Packard in 1849.

There was however a condition that work had to be completed within 10 years and following World War I an extension was granted by an act of Parliament (8 & 9 Geo.