People campaigning to prevent an historic Sudbury house from being demolished are to hold a protest rally outside the property.

An extensive consultation about the planned regeneration of the area around Belle Vue House failed to yield any sustainable ideas for retaining the property in its current form.

Babergh District Council, which owns the house, has begun proceedings for the “disposal” of the property.

The council has received interest in the site from a budget hotel chain, which is the preferred option because of the possible economic benefits.

A community group, headed up by businessman Theo Bird, has also submitted an application to secure the building under the ‘community right to bid’ legislation – possibly using £750,000 put forward to purchase the site by property developer Barry Drury.

The idea would be to turn Belle Vue House into a business hub.

South Suffolk Labour Party has organised a rally at the house at 10am on Saturday, November 29, with a view to persuading Babergh to retain Belle Vue “for the good of the community”, according to party chairman Luke Cresswell.

But at a recent Sudbury Steering Group meeting, Babergh’s strategic director for place, Lindsay Barker, said any community bids would have to be considered alongside commercial bids and decided on merit.

She added: “Should Belle Vue House be added to the community asset register, then when we market the site we have to allow up to six months for the community to put together a bid.

“It will not give them preferential treatment but will allow their application to be assessed alongside any other bids.”