Tower block deemed unsafe is sold for £1

The construction of the tower block started in 2007

A tower block blighted by safety worries finally has a new owner - who paid £1.

The freehold of The Mill, a development that includes a 23-storey tower and several other blocks of flats on the waterfront in Ipswich, has been sold to local developer John Howard, who told the BBC some floors may have to be removed.

Part of the development was deemed unsafe after gale force winds tore cladding away, and fire hazards identified following the Grenfell Tower disaster have also yet to be rectified.

Administrators had said the financial future of the development was in jeopardy, with significant funding needed for repairs.

Many properties at The Mill became worthless - with leaseholders unable to re-mortgage. The freeholder went into administation in 2010.

Administrators RSM UK warned in March 2024 that the cost of repairs could reach £30m.

Mr Howard says carrying out repairs will be a challenging project

Mr Howard, the new owner, told the BBC: "What we have to do is retain the structural stability of the tower by maybe reducing [it by] a few floors, but I don't think we want to be too dramatic about that."

Mr Howard said structural engineers had looked at the tower and had told him they did not think there would be any "long-term" problems.

The Mill development, on Ipswich's waterfront, includes the tower and several other blocks of flats

In April 2024 , the government housing agency Homes England confirmed part of the site qualified for remediation work, under a cladding safety scheme.

Mr Howard said: "We need every government department we can get our hands on that have grants available that can help and support us."

He added that he hoped remediation work would begin in the next 12 months, but said that timescale may be pushed back.

Barbara Spraggons is "delighted" the development's freehold has a new owner

Barbara Spraggons, who owns three properties in the other blocks of flats at The Mill, said she was looking forward to "normality" after her properties became "worthless".

She said: "We are seriously over the moon, I could jump in the water.

"We've been in limbo for so long, we haven't been able to re-mortgage, we haven't been able to sell it, we haven't been able to move."