A three day public inquiry into plans to create 46 flats in Bury St Edmunds starts on Tuesday.

The proposals by Kingsway Homes is for the EMG used car sales site, in Tayfen Road, and were sent to the planning inspectorate after St Edmundsbury Borough Council failed to make a decision.

The development which ranges from six to two storeys includes a commercial unit.

Residents objected to the application as “monolithic and overbearing” and said it “will create too much traffic”.

The developer lodged an appeal in August but the council indicated in November it would have recommended the application for approval and said the design was “excellent” with an “appropriate scale”.

That same month the applicant resubmitted the plans to the council.

The inquiry, starting at 10am, will be held at Forest Heath District Council’s offices, in College Heath Road, Mildenhall.