The new owner of Sudbury's 19th century Belle Vue House has been confirmed by the district council.

Babergh District Council has announced period property specialist McCabe & Abel has taken control of the landmark building in the Suffolk town centre.

McCabe & Abel had previously been planning to convert the house into a series of homes in a joint scheme with Churchill Retirement Living.

However, those plans fell through in August last year.

Babergh put the property back on the market in January this year and urged developers interested in revamping the property to submit a bid on an informal basis.

All bids were considered by Babergh and the preferred submission was presented to the cabinet for the final decision.

McCabe & Abel has now won the opportunity to bring Belle Vue House back into use, with a planning application set to be submitted.

Richard Abel, partner at 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."

Fiona Duhamel, Babergh District Council's director for economic growth and climate change, added: "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."