A TOWERING “eyesore” despised by Bramford residents has been given planning permission for another storey.Villagers have protested against Landmark House, the controversial former Agilent communications firm building which overlooks the A14 from Whitehouse Road, Ipswich, since it was originally built in the late 1990s.

A TOWERING “eyesore” despised by Bramford residents has been given planning permission for another storey.

Villagers have protested against Landmark House, the controversial former Agilent communications firm building which overlooks the A14 from Whitehouse Road, Ipswich, since it was originally built in the late 1990s.

Their latest outrage came after councillors at Ipswich Borough Council approved planning permission to add 3.7 metres to the height of the building, which is already described by many as a “blot on the landscape”.

The council's decision came despite advice from its own planning officers and objections from Bramford Parish Council, Mid-Suffolk District Council and hundreds of residents.

Last year the villagers fought the same battle but proposals to build another level were halted after they organised a petition. The building, overlooking Bramford and the Gipping Valley, was built five years ago but is currently empty.

David Bailey, chairman of Bramford Parish Council, spoke against the proposal at the meeting, saying he was “confused” and “appalled” by the decision.

He said: “At the meeting many members of the planning committee agreed that the building is a blot on the landscape and has an adverse visual impact on the Gipping Valley.

“Some members said that it should never have been built in the first place, some said the building needs to be used and one member even claimed that Ipswich should allow tall buildings as happens in America.”

The committee decided to allow the application to add another level to the building on the condition that it is occupied first.

Mr Bailey added: “If the building remains an eyesore when it is empty, surely it will be more of an eyesore when it is occupied with another floor added. The adverse visual impact on the village and Gipping Valley will worsen.”

What do you think of the council's decision? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.