AFTER years of neglect an Ipswich eyesore has been transformed into a striking new development.A few years ago the area of land on the corner of Franciscan Way and Wolsey Street was a mess which had been taken over by nature.

AFTER years of neglect an Ipswich eyesore has been transformed into a striking new development.

A few years ago the area of land on the corner of Franciscan Way and Wolsey Street was a mess which had been taken over by nature.

For more than two decades the expanse of debris, rubbish and litter on a forgotten patch of Ipswich undergrowth was a big embarrassment for the town.

But now the Ipaxis Development of 50 modern two bedroom apartments, with state of the art technology and underground parking, now dominates the site once branded by the Star as a cross between a municipal rubbish tip and a nature reserve.

Since planning permission was granted in 2004, the Chelmsford-based Swift Developments have been hard at work making the long running eyesore in the middle of Ipswich into luxurious accommodation.

The aim of the development was “to create exclusive and luxurious dwellings with interiors that meet and exceed the expectations of the owner” while at the same time providing an iconic landmark for the town, a major improvement on the rubbish tip that use to occupy the unused plot of land.

The site was once an urban jungle full of broken glass bottles, fast food cartons and even a dumped lawn mower.

Now Ipswich has been given a boost by the development which has helped to improve the look of the town.

The majority of apartments on the site have already been snapped up and the new residents are expected to move in at the end of the month.

Charlie Wright, from Fenn Wright in Ipswich, the agents selling the apartments, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this exceptional project.

“The whole area of Ipswich is getting better all the time and this is a development that is head and shoulders above others.”

What do you think about the new developments springing up around Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.