IPSWICH today looks set to attract yet another major development to a site near the town's vibrant waterfront.Ambitious plans for 26 houses and 373 flats as well as a large amount of retail space between Great Whip Street and Stoke Quay have been announced by property company Bidwells.

IPSWICH today looks set to attract yet another major development to a site near the town's vibrant waterfront.

Ambitious plans for 26 houses and 373 flats as well as a large amount of retail space between Great Whip Street and Stoke Quay have been announced by property company Bidwells.

It aims to convert land currently used by Graham's Builders Merchants, Bolenda Engineering and the East Anglia Bearing Service into the new development.

And Bidwells has organised an exhibition at nearby Felaw Maltings where information about the proposals will be displayed on Friday and Saturday so that nearby residents and businesses can study drawings and models of the proposed site.

Paul Clarke, partner at Bidwells, said: “We've been in discussions with planning officers at Ipswich Borough Council to redevelop the site at Great Whip Street for about a year.

“We're proposing 26 houses, 373 flats and about 12,000 square feet of retail space.

“There will also be parking and communal open spaces.

“We're having an exhibition from midday to 8pm on Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturday and we have issued leaflets to about 1,000 properties in the area with a space so people can post comments back to us.

“The idea is to get comments not just from residents but also from local businesses.”

Mr Clarke said that following the exhibition and any comments from residents the company was hoping to submit a planning permission application to Ipswich Borough Council in the new year.

However he said it was not yet known when the building work would start if the planning process was successful.

Weblink: www.bidwells.co.uk