Work to demolish the former offices that produced the EADT and Star for about half a century is expected to start within the next few days.

Ipswich Star: McCarthy & Stone has made a planning application to build new retirement homes on the former newspaper site between Lower Brook Street and Turret Lane, Ipswich. Archant, publishes of the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, have moved to new offices at Portman House, Princes Street. These images are of the intended development.McCarthy & Stone has made a planning application to build new retirement homes on the former newspaper site between Lower Brook Street and Turret Lane, Ipswich. Archant, publishes of the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, have moved to new offices at Portman House, Princes Street. These images are of the intended development. (Image: Archant)

Equipment has been moved on to the site in Lower Brook Street in Ipswich – and it is due to be cleared by the end of the year to allow construction work to start in January next year.

The site is to be used for a new McCarthy & Stone development of 51 retirement flats.

Ipswich Star: Demolition work is about to start at the former EADT/Ipswich Star offices in Lower Brook Street in Ipswich.Demolition work is about to start at the former EADT/Ipswich Star offices in Lower Brook Street in Ipswich. (Image: Archant)

Work on this project will start in early 2018 and the first homes will be ready for people to move into in November of next year.

A spokeswoman for McCarthy and Stone said there was a considerable amount of ground work and then demolition that would have to be completed before construction can start.

Over the last few days machinery and engineering equipment has been moved on to the site in preparation for the start of a long ground clearance programme at the former print works.