Plans to build new homes opposite the Burnham-on-Crouch Cemetery have been refused by the district council.

The proposal involved building two additional homes on land to the west of Burnham-on-Crouch Cemetery, along Southminster Road, as part of the site currently under construction by Matthew Homes Ltd for a housing development of 80 properties.

The two homes were proposed for land that was retained for a two-year period for use as a local shop.

Although this restricted use expired in February, Maldon district council officers rejected the application on the basis that it "would result in an unjustifiable loss of land reserved for a commercial/community facility to the detriment of the local community and local economic development objectives".

The application proposed one two-bedroom home and one three-bedroom home, and said the additional properties would be a "seamless continuation" of the development.

Officers also cited the "inadequacy of the private outdoor amenity space" planned for the homes, which they said would be "detrimental to the residential environment and living conditions of future occupiers of these properties".

Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council had previously recommended refusal of the application, on the basis that it would cause "loss of amenity at [the] expense of new development".