Positive and negative news for four blocks in Ipswich

St Francis Tower, Churchmans, Cardinal Lofts and The Mill, have all undergone significant issues in recent years with residents having to leave their homes over fire risks, flooding and cladding problems.

We take a look at what is next for impacted residents on what marks the second anniversary since the start of evacuations at Cardinal Lofts.

Cardinal Lofts

Cardinal Lofts in Ipswich (Image: Lucy Brown)

Freeholders for the building, Grey GR, are currently in the process of negotiating with flat owners and renters over buyout offers, with some being able to get out, such as Alex Dickin, founder of Ipswich Cladiators, and some still negotiating their clauses.

A spokesperson for Grey GR said: "Cardinal Lofts is a complex building, requiring significant structural and remedial work, caused by the original developers, which should never have been approved by building control.

"Following intensive intrusive investigations last year, Grey’s professional teams concluded it was uneconomical and unviable to remediate the building."

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said that it was a "dreadful anniversary" stating he is engaged with stakeholders to resolve the situation.

Chu Man from the Churchmans Residents Management Company (Image: Ipswich Labour)

Chu Man from the Churchmans House Residents Management Company, has worked with those involved at Cardinal Lofts, along with other buildings in the town.

He said: "Those leaseholders at Cardinal Lofts who have accepted their buybacks are the lucky ones, they are free from the uncertainty, stress and anxiety and can get on and enjoy life. 

"It’s unclear what will happen to those who have not accepted their offers, but they will have to make a decision sooner or later, or have that decision made for them by the building owner.

"For the vast majority of leaseholders still caught up in this never-ending Building Safety Crisis, to be offered a choice to escape this nightmare relatively unscathed, is something we can only dream of."

St Francis Tower

St Francis Tower in Fransiscan Way (Image: CHARLOTTE BOND)

The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government has, announced that the residents of St Francis Tower are to be back in their homes in spring 2025.

Residents were evacuated from their apartments in July 2023 after two major water leaks. Since then they have not been allowed back in.

Ross Bonner, owner of four flats in the tower said: "This is the light at the end of the tunnel".

Ross Bonner, right, leads the tower's leaseholder group. (Image: Ross Bonner)

Mr Man said: "It's fantastic news about St. Francis Tower, which has been going on for way too long."

Mr Abbott said: "For residents of St Francis Tower, the Building Safety Crisis has been an ongoing nightmare. After years of being subjected to never ending works while living shrink-wrap, they were then evicted from their homes last year after devastating flooding.

“My team and I have been working hard to resolve this situation, and am delighted that there is now light at the end of the tunnel, having secured the funding needed to repair the building. If work commences immediately, as it should, it will mean residents can return to their homes next year. They deserve this good news after years of misery."
 

Churchmans

Churchmans House in Ipswich (Image: Google Maps) Following a letter from Mr Abbott to the government, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety and Homelessness responded stating that Churchmans House is eligible for funding to remediate all necessary works identified in the Fire Risk Assessment of External Walls.

Now, after lots of hard work behind the scenes, Mr Abbott has secured more funding than previously for the building.

Mr Abbott said: "I am hopeful that this means the threat of eviction subsides, and that the residents will no longer have to live in constant fear and insecurity."

Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich (Image: Roger Harris/House of Commons)

The Mill

The Mill in Ipswich (Image: Newsquest) In July, Ipswich's tallest building, The Mill, was bought for £1 by John Howard.

The building was deemed unsafe in 2013 after gale-force winds caused damage and tore cladding from the tower.

Now, under new ownership, which has been called "positive news", the building is predicted to cost around £30million to finish the job on the building.

As a rough estimate, he said he would like to be on site in July 2025, with the work expected to last around two years.

Mr Abbott said: "The Building Safety Crisis has ruined the lives of hundreds of people in Ipswich, and was one of the most pressing issues I inherited when I was elected as the town’s Member of Parliament.

"There is still much to do across the town, and I will continue to work with all stakeholders to deliver the remediation works needed to make our town’s buildings safe. With this collective effort, I hope that we will be able to look back on this moment as a turning point for people.

"I am pleased to have worked so constructively with the Government, and thank them for their determination in tackling the Building Safety Crisis in Ipswich."