Unsafe £1 tower block 'going in right direction'

The Mill, on the waterfront in Ipswich, was previously deemed to pose a fire risk to residents

A developer who purchased an unsafe tower block in Suffolk for just £1 said work to get the building up to standard was "going in the right direction".

John Howard bought the freehold of The Mill, a development that included a 23-storey tower, and several other blocks of flats, on the waterfront in Ipswich, in July.

Part of the structure was deemed unsafe in 2013, after gale-force winds tore cladding away from the building, and fire hazards were identified.

But Mr Howard reported that all was being done to enable the building to become habitable.

"Everyone has been incredibly supportive, we know what we are doing and we are working as quick as we can," he told the BBC.

"We've got a good team of consultants that we have pulled together and they are now working up a scheme.

"At the end of the day, we are all working to the same conclusion, which is for the 250 residents of The Mill to have their apartments back and fire-proofed."

John Howard purchased the freehold of The Mill for just £1 in July

Prior to Mr Howard's takeover, administrators RSM UK said the financial future of the development was in jeopardy, with the cost of repairs potentially reaching £30m.

Many properties at The Mill also became worthless - with leaseholders, who have never been able to move in to a completed building, being left unable to re-mortgage. The freeholder went into administration in 2010.

Despite this, Mr Howard remains positive about the future of the development, which included Suffolk's tallest building.

He added: "With these things you always have to be careful with what you say because there's always something that comes up that you don't expect.

"Once the local authority has passed on the plans it goes to a government body to have everything approved, so that might hold us up a little bit.

"But everyone has been incredibly helpful so all is going in the right direction at the moment."