A restaurant at a village pub that is 'no longer economically viable' will be transformed into a B&B with five bedrooms. 

A change of use for the restaurant part of The Swan Inn at Monks Eleigh has been granted permission by Babergh District Council. 

Applicant Julie Penney submitted plans for the Grade II listed building, at present a public house with an attached restaurant as well as two guestrooms, in March. 

The proposal included the change of use of the restaurant section to become a five-bedroom B&B, whilst retaining the pub's wet trade. 

Documents before the council said: "The restaurant business is no longer economically viable, in comparison to the two letting/guest rooms already available at the site." 

In the plans, minor internal alterations would take place to the layout of the rooms but it was said that this would not affect the historic walls, chimney, or elements of historical merit.

No external works or alterations to the roof are proposed and the historic fabric and special character of the property would be retained.

The access to the site would also remain the same. 

The document read: "The location of The Swan makes it a suitable place for a bed and breakfast as Monks Eleigh is within some two miles of Lavenham, which is very much a tourist hotspot and is considered one of England’s most perfect medieval Villages.

"Lavenham has a few places to stay, but there is certainly a need for further accommodation within close proximity to this area."

A Babergh District Council officer report read: "The proposed development is not considered to result in any significant adverse impact on highways safety, residential amenity, heritage assets, the environment or biodiversity interests to warrant refusal."

On April 23, the council granted permission for the change of use of the restaurant section to a five-bedroom B&B.