For more than 150 years, it was at the heart of Ipswich’s milling business – but now one of the last surviving parts of the former Cranfield’s site is getting a new lease of life.
The first flats in what has now been named The Mill House are now almost complete – and a show flat is open for the first time on Saturday giving a real taste of what town centre living will be like for those who move into the building.
The show flat is one of the more expensive homes on sale in the building which dates from the dawn of the Victorian Age.
Cranfield’s Mill closed in 1999 and the building has been disused since then. It was due to be converted into large flats as part of the original Mill proposal – but work had not started by the time the original developers went into administration in 2010.
Last year members of Ipswich Council’s planning committee gave permission for the building to be converted into smaller flats, work has been going on since. In all there are 43 flats in the building, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and studio flats.
The show flat on the second floor of the block includes a mezzanine with a second bed on top of the main bedroom.
It is open from Saturday through estate agents Marks & Mann and Ascot Estate Agency – but can only be viewed by prior arrangement. This flat is on the market for £167,500 – but others are on sale from £132,000.
Reece Parkins from Marks & Mann said there had already been considerable interest in the flats – from both owner-occupiers and the buy-to-let market.
He said: “The flats are still being completed but we have two reserved off the plans – one to an owner-occupier and the other to someone who is buying it to let.”
The first 15 flats are due to be finished during the spring – and the whole project should be completed by the autumn by which time all the flats should be sold.
Mr Parkins said: “There is a growing demand for this kind of property – for commuters, for young professionals who want to live near the town centre and Waterfront.
“It is also attractive for young couples who are trying to get their first steps on the property ladder.”
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