Gallery: New era for Ipswich as latest developments take shape at Tesco and Futura park sites

BUILDING work is this week forging ahead at Futura Park - home to John Lewis and Waitrose - ready for the next wave of new businesses.

The site, on Nacton Road, Ipswich, will eventually be transformed into a commercial hub, comprising retail and business units. With the John Lewis/Waitrose store doing a roaring trade in the last few weeks, developers are now turning their attention to the second phase of the complex.

This part of the 44-acre plot will comprise six retail units, largely selling bulky goods. The majority of these have already been snapped up by traders eager to ride on the crest of the retail wave that has hit Ipswich.

Elsewhere, the preparation work continues at the former B&Q site in Grafton Way, Ipswich - soon to be home to a new Tesco store, hotels, cafes and retail outlets.

The development would also include 17 town houses built along the waters edge.

Bulldozers have also moved on to the Daihatsu site in Derby Road, Ipswich, tearing down the old garage and workshop behind the former showroom and a signle story building to the east of the plot - owned by the East of England Co-operative Society.

Plans for the future development of the site have yet to be submitted.

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