CONTROVERSIAL proposals to turn the Golden Key pub in Woodbridge Road into a district supermarket have been backed by a planning inspector.

And council taxpayers could be faced with a legal bill for thousands of pounds after Ipswich lost a planning appeal.

The borough turned down an application from brewers Greene King last year, but the company appealed the decision.

The planning inspector upheld the appeal allowing the side to be redeveloped as a supermarket.

Retail giant Tesco last year vehemently denied claims it had any interest in the site – and the brewery has not been able to say which retailer is lined up.

However there was strong speculation that Marks and Spencer could be interested in opening a food store there – it had hoped to develop a small store on the former fire headquarters site before the borough said that had to be housing only.

A Greene King spokeswoman said: “We are pleased with this decision and will be implementing the changes granted to us by the planning permission. The site will likely become a high quality retail unit.”

Ipswich councillor with responsibility for planning and economic development Carole Jones said: “We opposed the conversion and felt we had a good case, but the inspector rejected our arguments.

“Greene King have asked for the costs of the appeal.”

n What do you think of the proposals? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starnews@archant.co.uk