Change of use plans that could have seen a former pub converted into a shop have been withdrawn.

A scheme for The Tudor Rose public house in Lowestoft, which has been closed for the past few years, was lodged with East Suffolk Council in November.

With the proposal for the former pub - previously New House and Rose Bowl - on St Peters Street in Lowestoft centring around "Change of use from a public house to a convenience store/shop" and also an extension to feature a house of multiple occupancy (HMO), the application from agents ML Daws ltd, on behalf of applicant Mr Asanka Rathnayaka, has been withdrawn.

The application said: "Property was already acting as a HMO when purchased in June 2021 with three sitting tenants, we are now applying for retrospective permission."

With the pub sold in June 2021 for £250,000 through Lowestoft-based Langwrights Independent Estate Agents, the design and access statement said: "The former use as a public house appears unsustainable with many public houses closing.

"The proposal fulfils local needs.

"The HMO fulfils local demands for affordable housing as well as providing accommodation for the marine college opposite."

With a response from the Highways Authority, it said they "cannot make a comment at this time regarding the conversion of the Public House to a shop due to a lack of information to make an informed decision."

Therefore the Highway Authority "would recommend a holding objection".

As the planning committee of Lowestoft Town Council met earlier to consider the application, they said: "It was agreed to recommend refusal of the application and endorse the holding objection from Suffolk Highways."

But with the application status listed as "withdrawn," a decision letter issued by the council to Wellington Construction said the "application has been withdrawn."