Former factory to become flats

BULLDOZERS are today preparing to move in for the demolition of a former Ipswich factory now that a new waterfront development is ready to be built.

Part of the former Burton's factory site will finally be pulled down within the next few months now all 71 apartments in the Cardinal Lofts development have been either reserved or sold.

Maxwell Hembry, co-director of developers Braceforce, said: "We hope the demolition contractors can start within a month and should take about two months to complete.

"We can start work within a month of the demolition process and are hoping the whole development will be finished within 16 months."

As well as the 71 flats, the apartment block will also have a 22-metre indoor swimming pool, gym and restaurant or shop space on the ground floor.

The block will be part of a £50million development with a commercial site between Star Lane and Key Street with a private car park, hotel and possibly a cinema.

A planning application for the whole development will be handed into the Ipswich Borough Council within the next month and it is hoped to be completed within three years.

The main structure of the former Burton's site will be saved during the demolition process and the fascia will be transformed with new windows, uplighter aluminium, rendered brickwork and a verdigris copper trim at the top. It will have a complete glass frontage with metal frame.

Chris Farrow, senior sales negotiator for Seatons estate agents which is dealing with the development, said: "We are now just waiting for a certain percentage of the clients to exchange contracts before building work can start and this should be done within two to three weeks.

"We knew from the start it was going to be a successful development because there is nothing else like it in Ipswich at the moment.

"There has been a wide range of people wanting the flats, from investors to owners and different people from all over the world wanting a base to visit a few times a year."