Work is under way on a multi-million pound clifftop homes project that will have a “bold, imaginative and unashamedly contemporary design”.

Leading retirement house builder McCarthy & Stone is behind the scheme for 46 Later Living apartments.

Contractors have started work on the site at the corner of Cambridge Road and Hamilton Gardens, Felixstowe.

The first task was demolition of pink-painted Hamilton House on the Cambridge Road side of the site. The property had been offices for a variety of companies over the years.

The remainder of the land has been used as a 67-space car park for workers in nearby Cliff House, who will now have to park in neighbouring streets all day.

McCarthy & Stone – which is also contributing £200,000 towards the cost of building affordable homes elsewhere in the resort as part of the planning permission – aims to have the building in place by summer next year.

A company spokesman said: “We are delighted to be extending our property portfolio to the residents of Felixstowe.

“We have started demolition work on site, with construction due to start in the spring.

“We anticipate the building programme to last approximately 15 months.”

The eight and nine-storey high two-building linked complex will feature flats for people aged over 60, although McCarthy & Stone say the average age of those buying such properties is 78.

The Later Living proposals include a residents’ lounge, guest accommodation and other shared facilities.

Such developments are run by a fully-trained house manager.

Felixstowe Town Council accepted the principle of development but criticised the design, which it felt could affect the setting of two iconic and important Edwardian buildings, former hotels Harvest House and Cliff House, on either side of the new blocks.

However, planning case officer Liz Beighton said: “A bold, imaginative and unashamedly contemporary design is proposed for this new development, which is clearly intended to be of the very highest quality.”