Sale of iconic Belle Vue House is agreed

Work to renovate Belle Vue House, (pictured above) in Sudbury, has moved a step closer as Babergh District Council has confirmed the sale of the building to local period property specialists McCabe & Abel.

The house was brought back on to the market in January 2023 with developers interested in the retention and regeneration of the property invited to submit a bid on an informal basis.

All bids were considered by the council and the preferred submission was presented to cabinet for the final decision with specialist property developers McCabe and Abel successfully winning the opportunity to bring the house back into use.

Richard Abel, partner, McCabe & Abel said: “McCabe & Abel are absolutely delighted to have been chosen by Babergh District Council to restore Belle Vue House in Sudbury.

“Having nearly 30 years’ experience with restoring listed and special properties, we are looking forward to reinstating Belle Vue House as an outstanding backdrop to the well-loved Belle Vue Park.

“We will be applying for planning permission shortly to split the house into two family homes, safeguarding Belle Vue House for the foreseeable future. We hope the people of Sudbury will support the plan and embrace the restoration and saving of this much-loved beautiful building.”

Belle Vue House and some of the surrounding land, including the former outdoor swimming pool site, had been vacant over recent years. In autumn 2022, the house became available after Churchill Retirement Living withdrew their plans which included developing on the land including the infilled pool site and renovating the house.

With the future of the property now secured, plans for the remaining land including the former swimming pool site, which had been proposed for development for a new, accessible park entrance, will be considered by Babergh District Council in due course.

Fiona Duhamel, director of Economic Growth and Climate Change at Babergh District Council, said: “It is very positive for Sudbury that the future of Belle Vue House, a well-loved local asset, is secured. We are delighted that the house, which dates from the 1870s, will be restored by a local specialist who will be able to bring the house back to life.

“We now have the opportunity to focus on plans for the new park entrance and new facilities for visitors to create a welcoming park for everyone to enjoy.”