One of the most prominent buildings in the centre of Ipswich could get a new lease of life as flats if permission is granted next week.

The borough’s planning and development committee is being recommended to approve an application to turn the former Bar Fontaine building on Old Foundry Road into 12 flats when it meets next Wednesday.

The building, which dates from the 1930s, was originally a furniture store and then was converted into a nightclub in the 1980s.

It traded under the names Dolce Vita and Bar Fontaine – but has been empty for about a decade. The application to convert it into flats is the latest attempt to revive the prominent building which also faces St Margaret’s Plain.

Planning officials are recommending approval of the plans with a contribution that the developers should make a contribution to new school places and to contribute to the library service based nearby.