Ipswich Waterfront is being revamped (Image: Shikhar Talwar)

Preparatory works on the town’s ‘Crown Jewel,’ Neptune Marina, are set to start in the coming weeks.

Associated British Ports (ABP) plans to remove 93 existing pontoons and replace them with 15 new ones in Ipswich Waterfront was approved by Ipswich Borough Council in December last year.

The proposal also sought permission to add a foul water treatment plant and two welfare buildings with toilets and showers for the users – which will be placed in the private car park opposite Duke Street car park in the quay.

In the coming weeks, the Ipswich Beacon Marina team will be preparing for the initial works, and further details on the appointed contractor and start date will be confirmed by ABP soon.

In an email sent to Neptune Marina’s berth holders, ABP wrote that it initiated the tender process once the planning approval was given.

ABP added: “We couldn’t finalise the tender before the plans were officially approved, so the first quarter of this year has been dedicated to reviewing those tender documents.

“This is why you haven’t yet seen any changes on the Waterfront, despite this busy period of discussions and planning going on behind the scenes.”