AS DEMOLITION work gets well under way on the Cranfields building on the Ipswich Waterfront, next door things are about to start happening as well.Knight Developments have bought the former Albion Maltings and are proposing to develop it as a major landmark.

AS DEMOLITION work gets well under way on the Cranfields building on the Ipswich Waterfront, next door things are about to start happening as well.

Knight Developments have bought the former Albion Maltings and are proposing to develop it as a major landmark.

There will be flats in a 14 storey tower block, offices, shops, restaurants, and a new theatre for the Red Rose Chain.

And demolition work on that site should start in the near future - providing planners give their blessing after a meeting with Knight Developments bosses later this week.

Also this week, the Essex-based company sponsored a farewell reception for HMS Pickle on the Waterfront.

Knight's managing director William Anthony said he was optimistic it would soon get the green light for demolition work to really get going - although it would not have been possible to start it any earlier.

He said: “We have had very positive discussions with planning officers and we have a meeting later this week which should tie everything up.

“Then it may have to go back to councillors, but things are looking very good.

“We have got specialists in removing asbestos, and we can't start full demolition until they have finished anyway.”

Albion Maltings was owned by Pauls Maltings and closed at the end of last year.

The other Pauls Maltings silo, on the opposite side of Cranfields, is not included in the Knight Developments project.

Knight plans to retain much of the original Victorian Maltings in its new development, but the silo dating from the 1950s will be demolished.