A buyer may have been found for the tallest building in Suffolk, which has been affected by safety concerns for at least a decade.

The Mill tower block in Ipswich has been affected by safety concerns since 2013, when it was deemed unsafe after gale-force winds caused damage and tore cladding from the building.

The following year, fire experts warned that cladding at the College Street site was so unsafe that all residents should be moved out.

Ipswich Star: The prominent Mill building can be seen for miles.The prominent Mill building can be seen for miles. (Image: Archant)

Residents were left paying for flats that became essentially worthless.

RSM, which was appointed administrator after original developer Wharfside Regeneration Limited entered administration in 2010, said last month that the cost of rectifying the issues “could be in the region of £30m”.

But now RSM has confirmed that Homes England will provide assistance with cladding, and discussions are taking place over the sale of the freehold.

Ipswich Star: Rosalynn English and Adrian Swift at a protest outside RSM headquarters in July.Rosalynn English and Adrian Swift at a protest outside RSM headquarters in July. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

A spokesperson for RSM UK said: “We can confirm that we have informed leaseholders at The Mill that we are in receipt of a letter of eligibility from Homes England that they will provide assistance with the cladding for the development.

"In the meantime our discussions with the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Homes England, Ipswich Borough Council and the interested parties towards what we hope will be an eventual sale of the freehold continue to progress positively.”

Ipswich Star: The RSM Bury St Edmunds headquarters. Credit: Charlotte BondThe RSM Bury St Edmunds headquarters. Credit: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt, who has raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions and joined the relevant Select Committee, said:  “It really does feel like things are moving forward with the Mill at the moment.

"I continue to meet with residents about once a fortnight and at the last meeting I had there was a real sense of positivity. 

Ipswich Star: MP Tom Hunt, House of CommonsMP Tom Hunt, House of Commons (Image: House of Commons)

“There are still many questions that need answering and there is still a way to go but certainly it feels like finally there is a light at the end of the tunnel for residents.

“Productive discussions have been taken place I understand between someone interested in taking on the freehold and the administrator.

"If this ends up in a positive outcome, it will hopefully represent a huge breakthrough.

“Some details understandably of course need to remain confidential but I can confirm things feel like they’re nudging forward bit by bit.”