Work to transform the iconic Winerack building on Ipswich Waterfront has reached a major milestone, with a new landmark appearing on the skyline.
One of the largest mobile cranes in Europe has moved into place as contractors R G Carter carry on putting up scaffolding to cover the building before it can be finished off. The crane moved in over the weekend of May 5/6 and is expected to start lifting the scaffolding into position soon as work on the unfinished skeleton which has been a feature of the town’s skyline for a decade moves up a gear. It will also be used to put up a tower crane which will be at the site for several months as work progresses on the project.
The Winerack is a key project for the Ipswich Vision. The building has been in a semi-constructed condition since the financial crash of 2008. Funding for the redevelopment was agreed in the spring and after months of legal work, the contract for the work has now been awarded to R G Carter Construction.
The Homes and Communities Agency is investing £15 million in the development of the Winerack building, along with £5 million from New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The Homes and Communities Agency’s £15 million investment is through its Home Building Fund, which provides government-backed finance to developers of all sizes to help them build more homes and improve places. The investment is supported by a facility of £5 million from New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through its Growing Places Fund.
The completed project will create 149 residential units and 5,000 square feet of commercial space. It will support 56 new jobs. It is a key development in the Ipswich Vision project, which brings together local partners to work towards a single vision for the regeneration of Ipswich town centre.
