Planners at Ipswich council are being recommended to approve plans to redevelop the former social club site on Rope Walk with 14 new homes.

The 1960s-built social club was the social club for Suffolk County Council for many years and became the student union bar for Suffolk College after the county moved to Endeavour House in 2004.

But the building became difficult to maintain and has been derelict for several years awaiting demolition,

Now DBS Contracting wants to develop the site, and a planning application is due to be discussed by members of the borough’s planning and development committee next week.

There would be 12 town houses, two flats and office space on the site.

The officers’ report to the committee recommends that the application is approved – with conditions. There have been other new homes built in the area recently, including in the former St Edmund House county council offices.