RAPID progress is being made towards the new Asda store in the Stoke Park area of Ipswich.

RAPID progress is being made towards the new Asda store in the Stoke Park area of Ipswich.

The development has a chequered history and proved a troubled undertaking for the company after its residential partner pulled out of the project in May 2007.

But in spite of the setback Asda agreed to complete the work last October and builders returned to the site in January this year.

Initial consent was granted in 2005 and work was originally scheduled for completion more than a year ago. Now the structure has begun to take shape following a four year wait for residents, during which time the site lay deserted.

Richard Kirby, Sprites ward councillor and head of the local residents' association, said: “From my perspective, they are proving to be a well run site aware of their responsibilities to local residents.”

When complete the store will provide 300 full and part time jobs and Asda has pledged to work with the local Jobcentre+ to recruit as many local employees as possible.

The store will boast a 2,500 square metre sales area which will include the full ASDA range of food and non food products and there will also be enough room for 229 car parking spaces.

Primary steel work is nearly finished using environmentally friendly guidelines and residents living can expect to see the roof of the new store complete by the end of this month. The car park is also set for completion at the same time.

Asda has announced the build is on schedule and will be ready to open by autumn.

Are you looking forward to seeing the new store? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk