Work to build 179 new homes on the site of the former St Clement’s hospital in Foxhall Road, Ipswich, should get under way early next year after it passed its final planning hurdle.

Members of Ipswich council’s planning and development committee approved the proposal from Bovis Homes which will see the land around the former hospital developed.

A separate application has been made to convert the Victorian hospital building – originally the Ipswich Asylum – into 48 homes.

Last week Bovis Homes said the company was ready to start work on the site as soon as planning permission was granted.

A spokesman for the firm said preparation work should start early in the year: “The first homes are currently scheduled to be completed towards the end of 2017, with all homes on the site finished by 2020.”

The Bovis spokesman added: “Conversion of the existing hospital buildings is being managed by specialist contractor Lexden Restorations Limited, and this will be carried out concurrent to all other works – starting on site as soon as possible.”

The new development will include 35 “affordable” homes – 20% of the total of new build units.

A requirement to build affordable homes was a major stumbling block when an application to build on the site was first considered by the borough four years ago.

The committee overwhelmingly backed the planning application after being advised to do so by officers.