A town building that has stood empty for a year will be transformed into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) as a council has given plans the green light.

An application submitted by Mr R Barlow in February sought permission from Babergh District Council for the change of use of 8 Cornard Road in Sudbury. 

The building, originally a purpose-built office and then converted to a medical clinic, has been empty since March 2023 when the previous tenant left. 

The February application to the district council included the transformation of the building into a HMO complete with up to eight bedrooms.

The proposal required minor internal alterations to the existing accommodation layout but stated the external appearance would be unchanged. 

A document to the council stated that car parking is available to the front, as well as cycle parking and a refuse bin storage area.

The applicant already owns and operates an HMO at the property next door, 10 Cornard Road.

A Newton Road resident raised concerns over the number of HMOs in the area in a statement to the council. 

They said: "Will consideration be given to the fact that the other existing HMOs in Sudbury are all just in adjacent roads and are being included in a very small area of Sudbury rather than spaced out?

"There is increased anti social behaviour, noise from the ones opposite us with the police regularly in attendance.

"The area needs 1/2 bedroom flats rather than being prioritised for HMO status in that area that is already heavily supplying HMOs," they added.

However, on Monday, April 22 permission for the plan was granted. 

An officer report read: "The proposed development is not considered to result in any significant adverse impact on highways safety, residential amenity, heritage assets, the environment or biodiversity interests to warrant refusal."