MAJOR construction work at the site of The Mill on Ipswich Waterfront is today finally under way after months of delays.The redevelopment of the former Cranfield's flour mill has been stalled since the start of the year while the neighbouring Regatta Quay is going up rapidly.

MAJOR construction work at the site of The Mill on Ipswich Waterfront is today finally under way after months of delays.

The redevelopment of the former Cranfield's flour mill has been stalled since the start of the year while the neighbouring Regatta Quay is going up rapidly.

Now, however, a construction team has moved on to the site and started to dig and prepare foundations on the site.

Part of the Victorian heart of the former grain mill is being retained in the new development - but the first work is to dig the foundations for the new building.

Already nearly half the 300 flats in the development have been sold, and a further group will be coming on the market early next month.

However, they will not be completed until 2009 - so the sale is expected to be mainly targeted at the buy to let market.

As work starts, the wooden internal section of the Victorian mill can be clearly seen giving a clear indication of how it was originally built.

While it is currently exposed, the wooden section will eventually be hidden by the base of the 23-storey tower block which will be an iconic landmark for the Waterfront.

And the development will also be home to DanceEast's new headquarters and studio space.

A spokesman for Ipswich council said: “It is good that work there is now underway. Alongside the Regatta Quay development it is a clear indication of major developments happening at the Waterfront.”