Sailmakers Shopping Centre in Ipswich listed for sale again

Sailmakers Shopping Centre in Ipswich will once again be auctioned off after selling last month for just over £3m. 

Auctioneer Allsops confirmed the sale had fallen through in a rare case in which the buyer was from overseas and couldn't get the money out of Turkey in order to purchase the centre.

The centre, which measures at 86,549 sq ft and is home to big brands including Subway, Poundland and The Perfume Shop, will be sold by Allsop at auction on Thursday, May 2.

This comes less than two years after the centre was bought by Nottingham-based company ALB Group.

Sailmakers Shopping Centre is back up for auction on May 2. (Image: Google)

It was previously listed for auction last month selling for just over the asking price at £3.02m after just two bids were received.

The listing is back up, and will go to auction once again, this time for a further reduced asking price.

In 2005, Tower Ramparts Shopping Centre as it was known as then, sold for more than £30m.

Now, the asking price sits at £2.5m having been reduced from £3m.

Ipswich Borough Councillor John Cook (Image: Ipswich Labour Party)

Ipswich Borough Councillor for the Alexandra Ward, John Cook, said: "It's disappointing that the sale didn't proceed to completion following the previous auction.

"Given the recent planning approval for conversion of upper floors to residential, and some good quality retailers as commercial tenants, I hope that the auction on May 2 results in a buyer committed to making the most of Sailmakers.

"If I had a tip for them, it would be to revert to the 'Tower Ramparts' name - long associated with this area.

"But whatever they choose to do, I urge Ipswich residents to use the shops and services in Sailmakers and across the town if they want to see a more vibrant and sustainable town centre."