Seafront parking problems at one of Suffolk’s busiest resorts have been eased thanks to the opening of two new car parks.

The pay-and-display facilities are part of the community benefits from the £25million Martello Park housing development on Felixstowe’s 17-acre south seafront site.

Developers Bloor Homes paid for the construction of the areas, which will provide 261 off-street parking places.

The area suffers severe congestion at weekends when visitors flock to the resort – though critics say the land could take more cars when it was an informal car park.

Bloor is also creating a new park area with picnic and wildlife areas, and play facilities for families.

The car parks will be owned and run by Suffolk Coastal, with all funds going towards keeping local taxes down.

Council leader Ray Herring said: “It is good to see that the Martello Park development is now reaching the stage where the public will start to see the benefits of this project.

“People can now also see the public spaces, including play equipment, being prepared, while work will be carried out to refurbish the Martello Tower to make it more attractive to visitors.

“Importantly for the area, the project will also be delivering much-needed affordable homes for Felixstowe.”

As part of the agreement with the council, Bloor Homes is paying for the repair and refurbishment of the Martello Tower.

There will also be more than 250 car parking spaces provided for the new homes, and the developers will be providing pedestrian and cycle links to the town centre and pier.

In all, 127 new homes will be created – 97 three-bedroom and 30 two-bedroom flats – which will include 13 designated as affordable housing.

Mr Herring said: “I’m proud of what we have achieved here. Bloor Homes have been a good partner, who have stuck with this project through the recession and have delivered a quality housing development.

“I am confident that the project will deliver the benefits we anticipated. It has creating much-needed new housing in Felixstowe, bringing in funding to protect the Martello Tower, providing extra car parking and there will be new leisure facilities, which will attract more people down to that area.

“Before this, this area had been looking rather sad and run down for a number of years. This should revitalise that end of the sea front. It is part of a package of positive projects we are working on to lift Felixstowe.”