Proposals to restore and find a new use for the historic Tolly Cobbold brewery on Cliff Quay in Ipswich have passed their final planning hurdle.

The detailed application to redevelop the building as an exhibition and business centre as part of a larger project on the site was given the go ahead by the borough’s planning and development committee.

Now work on the main development could start in about 12 months’ time – although remedial work to protect the fabric of the brewery building itself could start much sooner.

Clive Thompson, from developers Pigeon, was delighted that permission had been granted: “It feels we have been working on this for a very long time, but we have really now only just heard the starting gun.

“John Lyall [architect] and the team are looking forward to completing the detailed plans and getting everything in order so hopefully we can start work this time next year.”

Full planning permission was granted in principle for the work on the brewery itself, and outline planning was granted for other developments on the site.

That includes 222 homes, parking, a convenience store, a café, a health club and possibly a new building for the Ipswich Transport Museum. The Brewery Tap pub will be incorporated into the new site.

A full application for this is expected to be made in the autumn – but the permission requires work on the historic brewery to be completed before the other work is finished.

Ipswich council leader David Ellesmere said: “This is a welcome step along the road to renovating a property that has been empty and derelict for far too long.

“We now need to see work start on the brewery building as quickly as possible.”