Two new stores are to open in part of the former Littlewoods store at the Tower Ramparts shopping centre.

New branches of Iceland and Poundland are expected to open next month – both will be new stores, and their existing shops in the town are to remain open.

Iceland is expected to open on the upper ground floor of the centre, in front of the Tower Ramparts bus station, at the end of April once shop-fitting has been complete.

No one from the company was able to make any further comment about the new store – however a spokesman for Tower Ramparts said about 25 new jobs would be created.

Poundland is expected to open underneath that store a few weeks earlier, creating 10 new jobs.

Poundland’s Trading Director Richard Lancaster said: “Poundland has grown significantly over the past 12 months and it’s fantastic to see this expansion continuing with a second store in Ipswich.”

Tower Ramparts manager Mike Sorhaindo said: “Iceland and Poundland opening is the beginning of exciting times ahead!

“The centre is undergoing a lot of change and we are delighted to see these brands joining us. These stores are the start to a real transformation to that end of the shopping centre which has been without a permanent tenant for more than eight years.”

Gavin Ingram, Associate Director at Lasalle Investment Management which operates the centre said: “I am pleased that the new stores will also bring the additional jobs to the town of Ipswich.

“We have had significant interest in the remaining vacant units within the scheme and are looking forward to announcing some new brands for Ipswich in the very near future.”

Paul Clement from Ipswich Central said: “The long running issue with unlocking the potential of this scheme has been the former Littlewoods store which has been vacant for eight years.

“The new owners are to be congratulated for making the bold decision to take the unit back and have now been rewarded by these new retailers. I hope that this now triggers wider spread good news across the Centre.”