Ipswich flats at old Hope Church site in Fore Hamlet on track for completion in 2025 as major milestone marked

Construction of 30 new flats on an old Ipswich church site are on track for completion this year as the project marks a major milestone.

Handford Homes, owned by Ipswich Borough Council, celebrated a topping out ceremony for a development at the old Hope Church site in Fore Hamlet on Tuesday.

The borough council expects construction to finish later this year, with the ceremony marking installation of the highest point of the flats complex.

The ceremony was led by then-mayor Cllr Elango Elavalakan, who was officially succeeded by Cllr Stefan Long last night.

Colin Kreidewolf, chairman of Handford Homes, thanked the mayor for joining them for the topping out ceremony.

It brought the development, aiming to provide much needed affordable homes, one step closer to completion, he said.

Cllr Kreidewolf said: "At Handford Homes, we're proud to build one of the first developments to be carried out according to new Building Regulation standards introduced last year.

“These higher standards require much improved levels of thermal performance bringing greater energy efficiency to cut heating costs and emissions while boosting energy efficiency."

Ipswich-based SEH French is building the flats.

When complete, it will contain eight one-bedroom, 20 two-bedroom and two disabled flats.

Each would have access to shared gardens, with onsite parking and electric vehicle charging points.

The project was part funded by Homes England and the Government’s Brownfield Land Relief Fund, reducing the cost from the council’s housing revenue account.

Shane Davis, site manager at SEH French, said the fabric of the building was nearly finished.

He felt the structure as a whole was looking ‘really good’.

Mr Davis said: “It is a challenging site to work on due to its small and compact size, so the logistics have had to be spot on.

“Teamwork has been key to the project, working alongside our subcontractors to make sure everything runs smoothly.

“We’d like to thank the Mayor, Cllr Ross and Cllr Kreidewolf for coming along for the topping out ceremony. It was lovely to have them on site and to show them around.”