St Francis Tower residents could return in 2025 after government funding secured
Evacuated residents of St Francis Tower in Ipswich could return to their homes by 2025 following new government funding. The announcement comes six months after residents were forced to leave due to flooding.
Why it matters: The funding aims to resolve long-running safety issues at the tower block, where remediation work first began in 2018.
The big picture:
- Residents were fully evacuated in July 2023 following extensive flooding
- Building work has faced multiple setbacks since starting in 2018
- Return timeline depends on work starting immediately
- Government has promised "millions of pounds" for repairs
What they're saying: "For residents of St Francis Tower, the Building Safety Crisis has been an ongoing nightmare," says Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich. "After years of being subjected to never-ending works while living shrink-wrap, they were then evicted from their homes last year after devastating flooding."
The bottom line: While the funding marks a significant breakthrough, the 2025 return date depends on work beginning without delay.
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