ipswich: The town’s mayor has today told of his sadness after it emerged a historic pub could be converted into a house if new proposals are given the green light.

A planning application submitted to Ipswich Borough Council has revealed plans to transform the Crown Hotel into a “single residential dwelling”.

The pub, which lies on the junction of Felixstowe Road and Ransome Road, closed its doors on October 14 but it wasn’t until the planning application was submitted last week that the site’s future came into question.

In the application, the agent states: “Similar properties countrywide are currently closing at a frightening rate and it is our understanding from the owners there is no commercial prospect, in the present financial climate, of a commercial use being re-established.”

According to the proposals, the owner’s decision to close was partly caused by the close proximity of other pubs, including The Royal Oak, also in Felixstowe Road, The Golden Hind in Nacton Road, and The Railway in Foxhall Road.

If given the go-ahead, the plans would see the Edwardian-style property transformed into a residential site, while the appearance of the property would remain unchanged.

John Le Grys, town mayor and councillor for the Priory Heath area, told The Evening Star that the closure was a “massive loss” to the area and that he feared for the future of pubs in Ipswich.

“Unfortunately we are losing our local pubs all across the town and it appears more and more have closed in recent times,” he added.

“I fear that eventually we will just be left with the town centre bars owned by big establishments and we will lose the locals that have a local touch.

“This is a massive loss to the town and particularly to this part of Ipswich which lacks in amenities.”

The Crown Hotel was originally built in the 1930s, and was previously known as The Haven.

It was not until May 2009 that the pub reopened as The Crown Hotel.

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