A MULTI-million-pound project designed to regenerate Woodbridge and stop it becoming a dormitory town will be officially unveiled next week.The developer behind the project for two prime sites by the River Deben has been revealed as Dedham-based Michael Howard Homes, a company renowned for its meticulously-designed luxury properties.

A MULTI-million-pound project designed to regenerate Woodbridge and stop it becoming a dormitory town will be officially unveiled next week.

The developer behind the project for two prime sites by the River Deben has been revealed as Dedham-based Michael Howard Homes, a company renowned for its meticulously-designed luxury properties.

The firm announced it had secured an interest in the redundant Quayside Mill, formerly occupied by the Rockford Marks group before it moved to Rendlesham, and the Whisstocks boatyard that has been for sale and empty for many years.

It has drawn up a mixture of residential and commercial use for the sites and wanted to build a high-quality development that would provide office space for companies, light engineering and riverside apartments or houses.

The company has received an approach for a museum to be included in the development, but a decision has not yet been taken on that idea.

There were also no immediate plans for a wine bar overlooking the river, although it will consider adapting its scheme when the public consultation has finished.

Michael Howard Homes has been canvassing the views of users along the River Deben and it has paid for testing of the mud in the river. The results are awaited and the company is prepared to dredge the river, depending on the outcome of the tests.

That would secure the dock's future and allow visiting yachtsmen to continue to access berths – fears have been expressed the silting up had become so bad, the harbour would become unusuable.

The company's developments have included schemes in Monks Eleigh, Nayland, Dedham and New England-style homes in Aldeburgh.

Its managing director, Michael Pendlebury, lived two miles from Woodbridge for many years and he said his close links with the town had been a catalyst for a high-class development designed to keep the market town buoyant.

The Whisttocks site has planning permission for a mixed-use development, but Mr Pendlebury said he was confident its scheme would be more favourably received by the public.

"We will present an infinite improvement on what has already been approved in the past, which is a mixture of industry and offices. The idea is to draw employment into the town itself and provide employment for residents," he added.

"We want a scheme that looks almost as though it had grown organically there, that is what we want to try to replicate. When the development is finished, if you were on a boat on the river looking at the waterfront, you would have no clue that it was built in 2002."

It is anticipated two planning applications will be submitted near the end of November with councillors due to make a decision early next year.

Although the two sites are separated by a main road and a railway line, they are being developed as a package.

Michael Howard Homes requires some residential use to make the scheme viable, but the Local Plan stated small-scale business or leisure and recreation uses were only acceptable. It is expected discussions will focus on resolving that difference.