RAVENSWOOD is filling up and with the success in selling houses there are high hopes it will be finished ahead of schedule.But there's still a long way to go to complete the development on Ipswich's former airport site.

RAVENSWOOD is filling up and with the success in selling houses there are high hopes it will be finished ahead of schedule.

But there's still a long way to go to complete the development on Ipswich's former airport site.

Bellway, in conjunction with the borough council, Suffolk Heritage and The Housing Corporation have grasped the concept of this new village-style project with gusto to give a mixture of small, medium and large homes on the area off Nacton Road.

Some families and individuals have had plenty of time to settle in to their newly built homes and their young children have settled in to the two-year-old Ravenswood County Primary School built in the heart of the new community.

Others await completion of their properties while the plans unfold for even more construction.

One of the first major landmark blocks on Ravenswood is Orwell Gate near the entrance of the village.

This section is partly occupied with more homes on their way round the corner in Ravenswood Avenue.

Completed or getting close to being habitable are homes in Havergate Road, Minsmere Road, Ravenswood Avenue and Mansbrook Boulevard, to name a few.

Opposite Mansbrook Boulevard builders are half-way up another apartment block while The Laurels, a mixture of one and two bedroom apartments plus two, three, four and five bedroom houses are still at ground level.

The Laurels will also offer general needs apartments and support housing flats being marketed by Suffolk Heritage and The Housing Corporation.

Ipswich council is also providing affordable houses to rent.

Ipswich Airport's 1930's terminal building is listed and all along it had been intended as a feature for the community.

Details of its future use were revealed in The Evening Star in September last year when it was announced Cambridge-based Ashwell Property would convert it for use as a community centre and a further 24 flats.

Ashwell Property then announced in March this year that it would be developing other services for the village, including two food stores and ten other shops. It has been suggested these may include a newsagent, pharmacy and a bakery. There will also be a new pub/restaurant, fast food outlet and health centre with two GP surgeries on the site.

Play areas have been made around Ravenswood and when completed there should also be a village green complete with cricket ground.

Work on redeveloping Ravenswood began in 1999 and it the whole project will take ten years to complete.

Weblinks:

www.www.bellway.co.uk

www.ashwell-property.co.uk

www.flagship-housing.co.uk

www.housingcorp.gov.uk

www.ipswich.gov.uk