Recladding works on Suffolk’s tallest building are on track to start next month, its owner has confirmed, while adjacent buildings could be demolished.
John Howard, who bought The Mill on the Ipswich Waterfront two years ago for just £1, has committed to restoring the occupied parts of the complex and completing the construction of its main tower.
Work on the 71m (232ft) tower started in 2006 but was never finished, with 215 flats elsewhere in the complex affected by unsafe cladding first identified in the 2010s.
Mr Howard revealed earlier this year he had earmarked November to commence recladding works and has since shared another video update confirming plans are on track.
“Things are moving quite fast here,” he said. “We aren’t a million miles away, it’s the last push.”
MORE: WORK ON THE MILL EXPECTED THIS YEAR
The refurbishment and repair of the building is expected to take two years according to planning documents.
Inside the tower, Mr Howard’s team has begun stripping out existing cladding, with additional tasks set to include the removal of the lifts first installed more than 15 years ago.
Separate plans have also been submitted by The JTS Partnership, on behalf of Cardinal Lofts (Victorian Building) Limited, to demolish the two blocks which make up the adjacent Cranfield Mill.
The plans say the demolition of the two Victorian blocks would be “key” to unlocking access to the elevations of The Mill’s main tower.
Both blocks had initially been included in the original planning application for The Mill in 2005 and were hoped to be converted into flats.
An eight-week target date for Ipswich Borough Council to consider the plans has been set for December 1.
