The first phase of a major development in Norwich city centre has been secured after a £22m contract was signed.
Developer Orbit has appointed global construction firm ISG to start work on 190 apartments at St Anne's Quarter, between King Street and Riverside.
The contract, which will begin in April, will form part of the overall 437-home - and £80m - scheme.
There have been plans to breathe new life into the area since the 1990s, and the development has been hailed as the final piece of the jigsaw for regeneration in the King Street area.
Maggie McCann, development director at Orbit, said: 'The contract marks an important milestone in our £80m transformation of this city centre site, which previously stood empty for 20 years.
'As the first of the new apartments go up, Orbit's vision for St Anne's Quarter will really start to come to life.'
The scheme will include 22,000 square feet of commercial space and the renovation of the Grade II listed Howard House - once a summer home for Henry Howard in the late 16th century.
Initial work on the site began in 2015 with an archaeological dig, which unearthed human remains, coins, pottery, oyster shells, animal bones and painted glass dating from its time as the 13th-century Austin Friars Priory.
Danny Blakeston, managing director of ISG's engineering services business, said: 'This latest win will build on a strong partnership with Orbit, transforming an underused site to deliver modern, high-quality mixed-tenure homes.'
St Anne's Quarter will also include a central plaza for both residents and the public to enjoy views of the riverfront.
Alan Waters, leader of Norwich City Council, previously said: 'In the 1990s we put a lot of infrastructure in and upgraded the area, but there was always one yawning gap on this site.'
He said the development would complete the initial vision.
The first properties - a mix of studio, one and two bedroom apartments and houses - are expected to be up for sale in summer.
• Do you have a story about a city centre development that we should be writing about? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk
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