Nine new homes could be built at the site of an historic Suffolk priory to enable for "essential repairs" to the existing building.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Babergh District Council for nine homes at St Bartholomew's Priory in St Bartholomew's Lane, Sudbury. 

The 2.73-hectare site, which is in the ownership of the applicant, includes the chapel, priory farmhouse and 0.67 hectares of land that forms the proposed development site, south and east of the priory. 

The land is unused, formerly part of the farmstead yard and buildings which have now been demolished. 

A planning statement before the council says nine homes would be constructed along with garages and a new access roadway. 

The homes would be a mixture of four and five bedroom properties. 

It states: "The site has an existing vehicular access, formerly at the top of St Bartholomew’s Lane until this was truncated when the new residential development to the south was constructed. It now connects to the modern estate road.

"A new roadway and access from this road is proposed to serve the new development."

The statement explains that there is a bus stop at the Tesco superstore, which is across the roundabout from the site, which links to the town bus station as well as footpaths and cycle routes into the town and countryside.

"The site location is therefore very well related and sustainable," it says.

The purpose of the development proposal is said to be to "provide funds to enable repair and refurbishment of the main house." 

The plan is with Babergh District Council for consideration.