Plans to convert a former joinery workshop into five business units at the Westerfield Business Centre can go ahead despite concerns for a colony of bats. 

East Suffolk Council had approved the plans, which include an upward extension, refurbishment and conversion to the former joinery workshop, subject to the issuing of a bat licence. 

The licence which ensures that the proposals will not impede the roosting of bats was approved on Monday, October 21 following a consultation with the Council's Ecology Team and Natural England.

There were no objections to the plans, submitted by Sudbury based developers Cubitt Projects, which can now go ahead. 

The proposals were first submitted in November 2020 but could not go ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The council had imposed a three-year deadline for development to begin but this had expired without work starting which meant the plans had to be resubmitted.