Building work has been delayed on a £710,000 resource centre for people with life-limiting illnesses.

It was hoped that construction of the new information and support centre (ISC), which is earmarked for land next to Cutlers Hill Surgery in Halesworth, would begin later this year.

However the trustees of Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund (HCNCF), the charity behind the project, said technical issues around access to services such as electricity and drainage, coupled with complications about the sale of the land, mean that work will now not begin until 2018 at the earliest.

Ted Edwards, ISC chairman, said: 'We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported our fundraising drive, and want to make sure that those who gave their time and energy so generously are kept fully informed about the delays we are facing.

'Before building work can begin, we need permission from the adjacent landowners to be able to access the site and make use of the existing utilities, such as drainage. They have asked for some detailed surveys to take place before they grant permission, and these investigations are now under way.'

'In addition, Cutlers Hill Surgery, which owns the land we are purchasing, has reviewed its position following Waveney District Council's recent proposal to build 700 new homes in the town as part of the local plan. As the surgery may need to extend its building to meet this growing demand, the shape of the plot which it is selling to the charity has changed. This means we now need to amend our scheme and submit a revised planning application to the council, which will cause an additional delay.

'We fully appreciate just how frustrating this news must be to everyone who has so kindly supported us, but remain committed to bringing this valuable facility to Halesworth as soon as we can for the benefit of people across north east Suffolk and south Norfolk.'

HCNCF announced it had hit its fundraising target in October last year after a generous donation from the Patrick Stead League of Friends.

Building work was scheduled to begin early this year, with the centre due to be completed by the end of 2017 and ready to open at the start of 2018.