REVITALISING Ipswich Docks is one step closer today with the news of a new housing development.Pressure in the Ipswich property market could be eased with the plans to build dozens of new homes on the waterfront.

By Nick Richards

REVITALISING Ipswich Docks is one step closer today with the news of a new housing development.

Pressure in the Ipswich property market could be eased with the plans to build dozens of new homes on the waterfront.

Redrow Homes are planning to develop the site of the car park in Coprolite Street on the Ipswich Docks.

The proposals include the building of 121 residential units, restaurants, retail outlets and offices, with plans for 113 private apartments including 80 two-bedroom units, 29 one-bedroom units and four with three bedrooms.

The application for a new development close to the Docks will be heard on at a development control meeting of Ipswich Borough Council on Wednesday.

With not enough houses to cope with demand, prices are currently rising in Ipswich leaving first time buyers struggling to get a first foot on the property ladder.

House hunters, fearing a change in the market or facing ever increasing gaps on the property ladder, are staying put rather than moving which is creating gridlock in the market.

But this situation will ease if plans to build dozens of new homes in town come to fruition.

Although the application is being submitted by national housebuilder Redrow Homes, part of the development will be occupied by Neptune Marina Ltd, who currently operate marina berthing facilities within the Wet Dock.

The building, which would rise to ten-storeys high in places, will also be able to accommodate almost 100 car parking spaces.

Meanwhile in Gainsborough, there are plans to replace two schools with more residential housing.

Orwell Junior School in Roebeck Road and Raeburn Infant School in Raeburn Road are set to be demolished and turned into houses, with one new school currently under construction to replace both.