Plans have been submitted to convert the first and second floor of Sailmakers shopping centre into almost 30 apartments. 

The two levels currently remain unoccupied and were previously used as retail and storage. 

The proposals have been submitted by the centre's owners Sailmakers Ipswich (ALB) Limited who purchased the site earlier this year. 

Plans would see the creation of 15 apartments on the first floor, comprising of nine one-bedroom and one two-bedroom flats alongside five one-bedroom studio apartments. 

Plans for the second floor include a total of 13 apartments, made up of five one-bedroom and five two-bedroom flat alongside three one-bedroom studio apartments.

All residential blocks would be accessed via a communal corridor and would consist of a storeroom/cupboard space, a shower room, bedroom or bedrooms, a kitchen and a dining and living room.

Little to no demolition works are required to carry out the proposals, with the existing structure seen as sufficient for the conversion.

However, minor changes would include the creation of new window openings.

Two existing staircases at both ends of the building would be utilised as entrances to the residential blocks.

Plans would not impact existing shopping areas on the ground and lower ground floors. 

As such, the planning application says proposed works "should not be seen as detrimental" to Sailmakers and will not affect "the nature of a primary shopping area nor detract from the central shopping area designations".

The news comes after details of three new stores were revealed earlier this week. 

Men's fashion brand Blue Inc will be new tenants for the store previously occupied by Top Shop and Top Man, while Blue Inc's former premises in the mall will now be taken up by health and beauty brand Bodycare.

Men's and womenswear store Leading Labels will also be moving into the former two-floor Top Shop and Top Man site, selling brands including Ben Sherman and Calvin Klein.

Speaking on the arrival of new retailers, ALB managing director Arran Bailey said: "We're definitely heading in the right direction and, with a good wind behind us, we hope to fill the remaining units in the very near future."