AN iconic development of three hotels at Ipswich's Waterfront will be officially given the green light within the next two weeks, the Evening Star has learned.

AN iconic development of three hotels at Ipswich's Waterfront will be officially given the green light within the next two weeks, the Evening Star has learned.

The St Peter's Port development, between Star Lane and College Street, has already been recommended for approval by town planners although the official go-ahead was held up after central government opted to scrutinise the decision.

It was eventually decided in December that the application did not need to be “called in” but formal permission since then has been delayed while final details are ironed out between planners and the developers Braceforce.

Steve Millar, development control manager at Ipswich Borough Council, said: “We are still looking at the detail of the decision notices and legal agreement and going through these with the architects and developers.

“The decision will come in the next couple of weeks.”

The ambitious St Peter's Port complex already has a number of big names signed up.

This includes Accor, Europe's largest hotel group, which has committed to a 165 room Etap hotel, while Whitbread has agreed terms on a 117-room Premier Travel Inn.

Negotiations are also at a final stage with another hotel group to provide a New York-style boutique hotel with 58 rooms each individually designed by a world-class interior designer.

This hotel is also planning to incorporate a large conference centre capable of accommodating over 500 people, a rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of the night sky and a modern bar.

Does Ipswich need three more town centre hotels? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk