TWENTY years work by Ipswich businessman Alan Swann is about to bear fruit as the latest plans for the town's historic waterfront are revealed.Mr Swann has run Neptune Marina since 1983 and has long had plans to develop the quayside.
TWENTY years work by Ipswich businessman Alan Swann is about to bear fruit as the latest plans for the town's historic waterfront are revealed.
Mr Swann has run Neptune Marina since 1983 and has long had plans to develop the quayside.
Now his hopes of bringing a mix of residential, retail and leisure activity to the area are becoming a reality and will be in existence in less than two years.
"Thrilled, I am thrilled after all this time to finally know things are happening," said Mr Swann.
"It will also mean that my floating office, which has been bobbing about for years, will finally be going on dry land," he added referring to his office moored off Neptune Marina.
Redrow Eastern, which already has a 37-apartment development under construction in Star Lane, Ipswich, has just revealed details of the scheme for Neptune Marina.
One seven storey block – with a penthouse occupying the eighth and ninth floors – is to be built. It will include 113, one, two and three bedroom apartments on top of a chandlery, other retail outlets, a restaurant and a new office complex for Mr Swann.
Chris Roads> sales director for Redrow Eastern, said that there will be very few apartments not overlooking a view of the waterfront and many of those that do not have a quay-facing window will have balconies to the side.
The complex will stretch from the quayside to the junction of Coprolite Street and Duke Street.
Mr Roads, added: "We are expecting the first people to move in early 2005 and even before the official launch we had 400 people express an interest and immediately after this week's launch 15 have made reservations."
Prices range from £134,950 for a one bedroom property to £154,950 for two bedrooms.
Building is expected to begin around June or July Mr Roads said. He could not confirm which company would get the building contract.
The offices of Neptune Marina, the chandlery and Mr Swann's offices will be on the lower floors as will the restaurant.
These commercial elements of the development are the responsibility of Mr Swann and he said that although nothing has been decided about the style of restaurant that would be opening it was sure to be a good one.
Weblinks:
www.neptune-marina.com/
www.redrow.co.uk
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