DEVELOPERS who want to transform Felixstowe's clifftops with a £15 million project featuring 49 new apartments say it is a chance to make the area really special.

DEVELOPERS who want to transform Felixstowe's clifftops with a £15 million project featuring 49 new apartments say it is a chance to make the area really special.

Landro Ltd unveiled the scheme for Hamilton Gardens at a special two-day exhibition.

It will see Cliff House, a former hotel but more recently used as offices, converted to 12 flats, while two more complementing blocks with 37 flats would be built on the car park alongside and the site of Hamilton House, which would be demolished.

Guy Gredley, of Landro, said Cliff House was rarely half-used as office space.

He said: “It is not viable as offices and we have wanted for some time to convert it to flats and now feel that time is right.

“This development is a fantastic opportunity to make this area of Felixstowe really special.

“We want to hear what residents think before we finalise the plans because this is a major development for Felixstowe.”

The company is also talking to Suffolk Coastal council about helping with possible improvements to the seafront gardens below and creating better and easier access from the clifftop to the beach.

Conversion of Cliff House will include putting back the balconies removed when wrought iron was needed for the war effort.

Previous proposals for the site sparked controversy with nearly 100 letters of objection and were thrown out by councillors.

It is hoped the new plans will overcome many of the concerns.

Felixstowe councillor Doreen Savage said: “I am sure some of the concerns which came up before will come up again but I think we have to accept that something will be built on that site and we need to find the best design and solution.”

One of Mrs Savage's main concerns before was the stability of the cliffs. There have been several collapses over the years and an idea to widen the road in Hamilton Gardens was rejected because of concern that this would put more stress on the cliffs.

The new design will feature underground car parking but Hadleigh-based consulting engineers Richard Jackson plc said the project would “actually have the effect of improving the overall stability of the slope”.

Do you think it's time to build on Cliff House car park? Let us know your views of the new plans - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk