Ipswich Borough Council to discuss old County Hall plans

Plans for this were originally approved in January 2020, but only in April this year have conditions to renovate the Grade II* listed building's interior been met by developer David Harris. 

The council is set to take a decision and sign the legal agreement on Wednesday, May 29, after which work can begin at the site in St Helen's Street.

However, in the pre-meeting report the officers claim that while they approve the development, the costs of it may be unviable. 

Officers claim that the plan maybe unviable due to its costs

It states that a part of their conditions is the developer would have to pay £234,181 - which could go to schools, open spaces and biodiversity projects - along with having to build three affordable housing units. 

The costs to ensure that the building's listed qualities are protected are assumed to be over £1million, and after judging the financial viability assessment submitted by Mr Harris, the officers believe that total costs are unviable. 

However, the report says: "The proposal would contribute to bringing about a new use in a Grade II listed building which has been vacant for almost 20 years and has been on the Buildings at Risk Register since 2012."

Therefore, on balance, the officers believe that all costs, except for the Recreation Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy (RAMS), along with the three affordable homes be waived. 

Mr Harris will only have to pay £4,875 which will aim to reduce the impact recreational developments have on natural habitats. 

If approved by the council next week, the proposal will see the main building converted into 10 flats, while the extension to the rear will be knocked down for a further 30 homes.

The site will feature 29 one-bed flats and 10 two-bed homes, with the former council chamber becoming a three-bed flat.

This comes from a long drawn-out process of renovating this building since Suffolk County Council moved out in 2004.

The building had featured on Victorian Society's 2012 list of Top Ten Endangered Buildings.

Mrs Simpson was divorced at Ipswich Court - allowing her to marry the Duke of Windsor. (Image: PA)

After that, the building fell into despair with broken floors, ceilings and leaks, and was featured in the Victorian Society's 2012 list of Top Ten Endangered Buildings. 

The main building dates back to 1836 when it served as a jail and court, but extensions in 1906 allowed it to be used for council business too.

In 1936, Ipswich's County Hall became the centre of international attention when its court hosted the divorce proceedings of Wallis Simpson, which sparked the Abdication Crisis.