Suffolk Housing is to relocate to a new £2million headquarters after planners gave the scheme the go ahead.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s development control committee approved proposals for the bigger, brighter 866sqm two-storey office on land off Skyliner Way at its recent meeting. Construction work is due to begin before the end of the year, with the building complete by next autumn.

Suffolk Housing will invest £2m in the development, which will be twice the size of its current HQ in St Botolph’s Lane. The extra space will allow the housing association to expand its workforce by around 25%.

Ian Winslet, Suffolk Housing chief executive, said: “We are pleased that this exciting scheme to create a new HQ for Suffolk Housing has been approved. The proposals were carefully drawn up to fit with the council’s policies and complement existing development in Skyliner Way.

“The new building reflects the architecture used elsewhere in the town and includes a pitched roof to mirror the design of the arc shopping centre. It will also feature showers and bike racks to encourage our staff to cycle or walk to work, and will give us the opportunity to carry out conservation projects in the neighbouring woodland.

“The project continues our strong tradition of supporting our community by investing in the economy and providing new jobs for local people, and we look forward to starting on site in the very near future.”