NEW owners of Felixstowe’s former Bartlet Hospital are hoping to publish a book about the history of the building.

Award-winning Gipping Homes have exchanged contracts with NHS Suffolk on the seafront site and are expected to complete the deal next month, when the sale price can be announced.

The former convalescent home was up for sale for around �600,000.

Gipping Homes will take on the challenging conversion of the Grade II-starred building in Undercliff Road East into 21 luxury flats, turn the old nurses’ home into seven properties and build three new town houses in a terrace in the grounds.

Peter Blemings, a director of Gipping Homes, said: “As part of our development we are seeking to collate photographs, information and memories of the building through the decades and during redevelopment, to possibly form a future publication that charts the history of the building.”

The Baylham-based company – winner of the Archant Residential Development of the Year award in 2010 for a project at Great Finborough – was delighted to secure the iconic building with its panoramic seaviews. Mr Blemings added: “We recognise the important role this building has had in the history of Felixstowe”

? Anyone who would like to share their memories of Bartlet Hospital should contact Gipping Homes at reception@gvpc.co.uk