ENGLISH Heritage has turned down a bid to list a town's historic Corn Exchange which is earmarked by a developer as a £450,000 bar and restaurant.
ENGLISH Heritage has turned down a bid to list Stowmarket's historic Corn Exchange which is earmarked by a developer as a £450,000 bar and restaurant.
Rob Cook is buying the building from the town council, and has applied for the change of use.
But before the sale goes ahead, officials in the town had asked English Heritage to consider listing the building, to restrict the way it is altered.
Malcolm Baker, town clerk, said that had been turned down because its exterior and interiors are starkly different, reducing its overall architectural importance.
Campaigners are now looking for other ways to protect the building.
Mid Suffolk District Council recently deferred making a decision on the change of use application.
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