The new owners of Snape Maltings have received an early boost to their tenure with the go-ahead to convert part of the site for 43 new homes.
It was announced last week that George Gooderham (Investments), owners for the past 50 years, has sold the historic site to Aldeburgh Music.
Suffolk Coastal councillors have now agreed that old maltings, a barley store and a silo can be converted into a one-bed, 30 two-bed and 12 three-bed apartments.
The scheme also includes plans for a heritage centre in the Grade II-listed buildings, where artefacts will be displayed and the history of the site, which dates back to the mid 1800s, will be told.
A kiln which English Heritage was keen not to see lost will be incorporated into this part of the building.
The homes will add to the 30 existing properties – all but four are second homes – at the 22-acre site at Snape Bridge.
Members of Suffolk Coastal’s north area development management sub committee said a legal agreement should be signed for £200,000 to be paid towards affordable housing in Snape and Tunstall.
Tunstall Parish Council did not object to the proposals.
It said: “In essence, the parish council feels it is was better for the buildings to be saved in a sympathetic style rather than them fall in to complete disrepair.”
In a report, Suffolk Coastal case officer Stephen Milligan said: “The addition of further resident population, activity – people and vehicles – and uses is well within the nature of the character of the site as it is currently very widely enjoyed and, for these reasons therefore, I support the principle of the original agreement and subsequent development at this site, to date.
“The first phases of development have been mainly bought as second homes, with only four understood to be permanently occupied.
“The units are flats, with no residential accommodation on the ground floor because of flood risk, no private garden space and in a location visited by 500,000 people shopping, going to concerts.
“The existing units and those proposed in the application appear unlikely to be desirable for permanent residents with young families and it would appear unlikely that the scheme will realistically generate significant demand for education/schools provision; library, pre-school or play and sports.”
Aldeburgh Music, which already owns the concert hall, rehearsal rooms and studios, is taking over ownership of the whole site, including independent retail and residential properties, shops, galleries, two cafes, and maltings buildings yet to be restored.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here