A PLAN to create 16 new homes at the site of a former charity day centre in Southminster has been turned down by district councillors - against the recommendation of council officers.

At a meeting of Maldon District Council's South Eastern Area Planning Committee last night (Wednesday, 23 June), the planning application for redevelopment of the former premises of The Dengie Project Knightswood Trust Centre in Steeple Road, just outside the Southminster village boundary, was refused on the narrow margin of three votes to two, with three abstentions.

The plans put forward would see the conversion of two buildings previously used as a care home into 11 flats and two maisonettes, with three new bungalows at the rear replacing two dilapidated timber boarded buildings and a greenhouse.

In a long debate, councillors spoke of their concerns over the appearance of the proposed development and issues of sustainability, with the site being located well outside the Southminster village boundary, a lack of any footpath into the village - and an infrequent bus service.

Councillor Wendy Stamp said: "It is another development that is taking away what we are trying to protect in the nature of this district.

"It is harmful to the character and appearance of the area and it is unsustainable."

Councillor Nick Skeens, who seconded Cllr Stamp's motion to reject the plans, said: "It's so rural there. I think we are compromising at every turn the rural nature of the area we live in."

The applicant is MSN Ventures Limited.

The site has been vacant since July 2017, when the Knightswood Centre, a charity-run day centre, was relocated to Asheldham. Essex County Council's attempts to sell the buildings on to a private care provider were unsuccessful and so it was sold on to developers.

Southminster Parish Council had recommended rejection of the plans on the grounds of unsustainability and there had been three letters of objection.