For years it’s been one of the most unattractive streets in Ipswich – but work to improve the look of Upper Orwell Street is due to finally start next month.

A row of derelict shops and flats in the street was pulled down earlier this summer, and it is proposed to landscape the area to create an attractive garden-style area for the medium term – at least until the Cox Lane car park is redeveloped by owners NCP.

However there has been a delay in getting the work underway because of problems over the ownership of one of the walls that was exposed by the demolition.

Now that issue has been resolved, Ipswich Council is preparing to landscape and plant the area next month and into October.

Money to improve the area is coming from Ipswich Council’s Central Area Committee and chairman Julian Gibbs is relieved that work is finally being planned.

He said: “We had hoped to start landscaping as soon as the buildings were demolished but we had this issue over the wall that needed to be sorted out.

“That has been settled now so we should be able to get on with planting in the area in September or October.

“Once it is planted it should look better – and should be looking really good in spring next year.”

The row of shops and flats in Upper Orwell Street had not been occupied for many years.

The land had been due to be part of the proposed Mint Quarter development which would have included the former Woolworths’ building and possibly the former Co-op department store.

However that proposed development has never got under way and there are no immediate prospects for a major project on the site.

The new planted area is not necessarily seen as a long-term use for the land, but it is considered vital to improve the look of what has long been seen by many people as one of the least attractive roads in Ipswich town centre.