Work has started on building a major new vets and veterinary training centre in south Ipswich

The Ipswich Veterinary Centre is under construction alongside London Road, Ipswich close to the landmark One Sixth Form College, also with access from Scrivener Drive.

The plan is to have the full service vets centre, with state-of-the-art facilities, and training centre open in the summer of 2015.

A spokesman said the new veterinary centre will offer a complete and caring healthcare service for companion animals and will be easily accessible to pet owners across the Ipswich area and beyond.

Ipswich Veterinary Centre practice manager Denise Wright has previously worked at the Moreton Hall Veterinary Centre in Bury St Edmunds and has been with the company for 10 years.

She said: “This is a new and exciting project. Our signs will be going up at the site by the end of the week.”

There had been rumours in the local area about the development.

Local people had been stopping to ask whether the building was a new Aldi supermarket for the south Ipswich area, she said. Aldi is expected to apply to build a new store on adjacent land, as revealed in yesterday’s Star.

“Basically we will have a veterinary nurse training centre and and post graduate specialised training for vets,” Denise added.

Adjoining the practice will be the Central College of Animal Studies, offering training courses in veterinary nursing, dog grooming, companion animal behaviour as well as professional development courses for qualified vets and veterinary nurses, she added.

The development site has been sold by Ipswich Borough Council.

Further details will be released as the project progresses and this can also be followed online at www.ipswichvetcentre.co.uk