A PUB in the town is being demolished after being sold by its owners due to a dramatic drop in trade.

Demolition work on the Thomas Eldred pub, in Cedarcroft Road, started this week and six new homes are due to be created in its place.

Greene King, the company which owned the pub, admitted it sold the property because it was no longer thought to be viable.

A report on the building, which was presented to Ipswich Borough Council’s planning committee, said there had been a 65 per cent drop in trade over the last five years.

A spokeswoman for Greene King said: “The Thomas Eldred pub was sold by Greene King after it was found to be no longer viable as a business. We cannot comment on the future of site following the sale.”

Planning permission for the new homes and the demolition was granted in July.

Work to build the new homes is due to start soon after the demolition is completed.

The new development will include four detached, two-storey, four-bed houses and two three-bed two-storey houses.

The report into the development revealed the pub had seen the drop in trade due to the smoking ban, cheap drinks sold at supermarkets and rival pubs in the area.

However the building of six new houses in place of the pub was described as an adequate replacement.

“Although the loss of the public house facility is regrettable, it is considered that this cannot be restricted in this instance,” it said.

“And therefore the development as proposed is considered an appropriate replacement, designed to an appropriately high standard that will enhance the character and appearance of this area.”