The green light has been given for a Grade II-listed building in Ipswich to become three new homes.

Ipswich Borough Council met on Wednesday to discuss plans for Elm House in Elm Street, in the centre of town, to be converted into self-contained houses.

Plans were submitted in February, which proposed that the building could become one five-bedroom house, designed for six people; one two-bed for four people; and a four-bed property, large enough for eight people.

Six cycle storage spaces will be provided, but no spaces for car parking will be created.

These plans have been adapted from a similar application which was submitted in July 2023. However, this was refused by the council in November as it was deemed the scheme could “cause harm to the special architecture and historic interest of the building."

According to a design and heritage statement prepared by UPP Architects and Town Planners, the building spans “500 years of history”.

The statement explained: “The building features the remnants of a C16 structure but is predominantly C19 and C20. The main house is early C19 with later C19 additions to the rear and an early C20 staircase extension to the south.”

However, it added that many modern alterations have already been carried out over the years, stating that the rear of the property is defined by a 1970s “backland office development” set over four storeys.

The council’s Planning and Development Committee met on Wednesday morning, and it was decided to grant the proposal permission to go ahead.