New year brings new work on Waterfront

CONSTRUCTION workers were this week returning to the major building projects around Ipswich Waterfront.

Work on both the former Cranfield's Mill site, and on the Albion Maltings' site was due to resume after the Christmas break.

And 2007 is set to be the year when the skyline around Waterfront starts to change as new buildings start to take shape.

Ipswich council's economic development spokesman Richard Atkins said this year would be crucial for the future of the Waterfront - and was hopeful that it would lead to it becoming more integrated with the town centre.

He said: “During 2006 there was a remarkable transformation around the Waterfront, but that tended to all be associated with demolition and clearing old industrial buildings.

“Over the next 12 months we should start to see the new buildings that will replace them taking shape and that should inject a new sense of pride in that area and the town in general.

“It is difficult to feel pride in an area that is dominated by redundant industrial buildings, however great their potential, but when exciting new landmarks are going up then hopefully that pride will follow.”

The former Cranfields site is being developed by Wharfside Regeneration, which has been responsible for other conversion projects throughout Britain.

It is being marketed as “The Mill” and more than half the 300 flats which are the major part of the scheme have already been reserved by buyers. It will feature a 23-storey tower block, the highest in Suffolk.

The former Albion Maltings is being developed by City Living as Regatta Quay. The development will feature two 14-storey blocks of flats and a new headquarters for the Red Rose Chain theatre group.

The development is set to be officially launched later this month, from when potential owners will be able to reserve flats that will be built over the next two and a half years.