Plans to knock down a Suffolk care home and replace it with a new state of the art facility have been given the green light. 

Cornwallis Court in Bury St Edmunds is set to be demolished and replaced by a new 64-bed facility, with work set to begin in April. 

Plans to knock down the current 68-bedroom site which is run by Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Care Company were submitted to the council in March 2023. 

Reasoning for the demolition suggested that the company faces many challenges with operating a modern care home facility within the constraints of the existing building.

The care home was recently recognised as one of the best in the UK after it was given an 'outstanding' rating following an inspection by a care watchdog. 

A design and access statement submitted with the plans states: "As the existing care home on site is reaching the end of its operational life, this site provides an exciting and much needed opportunity for the provision of a new state of the art care home in response to the demand for accommodation of an ever growing local shortfall of high quality care and bed provision, for an increasingly dependent population of older people.

"This site will set new standards of care in the local area and provide residents with the peace of mind that truly world class facilities will be available on their doorstep.

"We believe that the proposed care home on Cornwallis Court will support the local older person community, and the existing residents within the existing care home, and will improve the quality of life and care for future residents going forward."