“Excellent” progress is being made to a £5million youth centre complex which is set to open early next year.

Building work on The Mix in Ipswich Street, Stowmarket, is on time, with the centre expected to be handed over to a board of trustees from Suffolk County Council in the New Year.

The centre will offer teenagers a range of activities and services in a modern building designed for youngsters.

A spokeswoman for the county council said: “I can say that we are making excellent progress and things are on schedule. We know all about the delays caused by the planning issue related to the front building.

“That did have a knock-on effect and Barnes, the construction company, had to adjust the building programme as a consequence.

“The result is that work at the front of the building and final details, such as traditional stone cladding around the windows and some external works to the grounds, will continue at the same time as the inside of the building is fitted out.”

The centre was originally due to be completed by March this year but was dealt a major blow in 2012 when the Victorian property at the front of the centre, originally earmarked to be refurbished, had structural defects and could not be repaired.

Permission to demolish the building had to be obtained from the Government as it was in a conservation area.