A NATIONAL food store is in line to be the first retailer to set up shop at the borough's Grafton House offices.

A NATIONAL food store is in line to be the first retailer to set up shop at the borough's Grafton House offices.

Premier, which boasts a chain of more than 2,000 convenience stores across the country, is currently fitting out a unit at Ipswich Borough Council's headquarters in Russell Road.

The units have remained empty since the council moved to the offices in late 2006 although it is hoped the new tenants will prompt more retailers to sign up.

A spokesman for Regeneration Holding Ltd, the developers behind Grafton House, said: “We are in discussions with three or four other parties at the moment.

“A restaurant is looking at three of the units while a Mothercare-style shop is interested in taking a couple of the units.

“A chocolatier is also interested in one of the units and we have had general enquiries form a coffee and muffin-style shop.”

The spokesman said negotiations with the restaurant were in the final stages.

He also emphasised the prominent positions of the units, which could also be used by county council workers, based across the road at Endeavour House.

“Hopefully over the next couple of months we can see some progress and get some more tenants in there.

“There is a fantastic amount of footfall in that area in terms of office workers.”

Last year The Evening Star revealed that council staff in Grafton House were told to wrap up to keep warm because retail units on the ground floor were empty and let the cold in.

What shops would you like to see at Grafton House? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk