Plans to create 22 new homes at the site of a former Suffolk private school and remove “utilitarian” modern structures at the site have been recommended for approval.

Amberfield School was an all-girl independent school with former pupils including the likes of artist Maggi Hambling and Madeleine Gurdon, Baroness Lloyd Webber.

The school, based in a Victorian workhouse in Nacton with added modern buildings, closed suddenly in October 2011 after the trust that ran the site ran up debts totalling more than £1.8million.

Dozens of parents and local businesses were left out of pocket.

Now the main building, situated in the 16-acre wooded grounds, is set to be transformed into a dozen flats and houses with a further 10 new homes to be built around the grounds.

Suffolk Coastal District Council’s South Area Development Control Committee will meet on Thursday and planners have recommended the proposals be approved, subject to conditions.

In their report to the committee, officers said the existing buildings that would be retained were proposed to be converted “sympathetically” and that the removal of the “utilitarian” former buildings, which detract from the appearance of the period buildings, would be an enhancement.

They added: “The site is a vacant brownfield site that has been unused since late 2011. The Core Strategy encourages the prioritisation of brownfield land in and around built up areas and allows for the minor extensions to some villages which are consistent with their scale and character. The site is closely related to the village of Nacton, a local service centre which provides a range of facilities.

“Connectivity between the site and village will be improved by the provision of a footpath link from the site connecting to Finney’s Drift.”

The plans would see the retail value of the properties total about £14m.