Property buyers who snapped up apartments in a planned luxury waterfront development have been reassured a fire at the site will not cause hold-ups.

The blaze at the weekend destroyed a derelict factory at the disused James and Son shipyard in Brightlingsea, which is where the development is due to be built.

Bateman Estate Agents, based in Osbournes Court, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea, is one of the joint selling agents for the venture.

A Bateman's spokeswoman said the fire was "unfortunate", particuarly so as firefighters had told them they were treating it was suspicious.

However, she said: "We do not believe the fire will cause any hold-ups to the development as it was not in the section where the first 78 flats are to be built.

"Building work will begin in the autumn as planned."

Published Tuesday August 10, 2004

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