TWO new blocks of flats are set to take shape near Cardinal Park in the heart of Ipswich over the next few months.Builder Swift Developments is putting up the block of 52 flats on the wasteland site between St Francis' Tower and Wolsey Street.

TWO new blocks of flats are set to take shape near Cardinal Park in the heart of Ipswich over the next few months.

Builder Swift Developments is putting up the block of 52 flats on the wasteland site between St Francis' Tower and Wolsey Street.

It is being marketed under the name Ipaxis, and the first flats are expected to be completed in August.

The development is due to be completed by about Easter next year.

Now an outline application has been made for a further 24 flats on the nearby “island site” in front of Jewson's depot in Greyfriars Street.

That has been submitted by Ipswich architects Poole and Pattle on behalf of clients Tannen Ltd and seeks permission to build the flats in an eye-shaped block which is four, rising to five, storeys high.

The application has only just been received by the borough's planning department, and is expected to be discussed by councillors during the spring.

The 76 new flats will only be a small proportion of the total number of new flats going up near Ipswich town centre - but they will tidy up two sites which have been vacant for many years.

Ipswich Waterfront and the nearby area, including these new sites, is expected to see the construction of 4,500 new homes over the next 10 years as part of a £1billion redevelopment of the area.