DEVELOPERS have taken the first steps to winning approval for a massive £130million development which could dramatically alter the skyline of Ipswich's Waterfront.

DEVELOPERS have taken the first steps to winning approval for a massive £130million development which could dramatically alter the skyline of Ipswich's Waterfront.

London-based Stephen Kane & Company today revealed it has big plans for the Waterfront, with the 13-storey Freedom Point development featuring at the centre of its proposals.

The company had been among several to propose a casino for the town in 2004 but those plans have been dropped in favour of a development incorporating:

N 335 luxury apartments

N a 120-bedroom hotel

N a 556-space multi-storey car park, including 200 spaces for non-residents

N a fitness club

N shops

N restaurants

If given the go-ahead by councillors, Freedom Point would become one of the Waterfront's biggest developments and would be built next to the already completed Neptune Marina by the water's edge.

Jeremy Barnett, head of investment and development at Stephen Kane & Company, said: “This development is going to be fabulous for Ipswich's Waterfront.

“It's going to deliver the kind of regeneration the council want to see there.”

News of the plans for Freedom Point comes just two days after Persimmon revealed its plans for Griffin Wharf - a £40million housing project on the Waterfront's west bank.

The public was given its first glimpse of the Freedom Point project on Saturday when the developers held a launch event at the Waterfront.

A planning application has already been submitted with Ipswich Borough Council and Mr Barnett said construction could be completed within three years.

He said: “We would hope to be making a start next year.”

The idea for a casino within the development was dropped when it became clear that difficulties were likely to be encountered in securing planning approval for the site.

Mr Barnett added: “We felt that at the moment with the way casinos are that it was something we wanted to steer clear of.”

N What do you think of the plans for Ipswich's Waterfront? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.