PLANS to convert Maldon town centre's former police station into five flats will be decided by councillors next Wednesday (7 October).

Maldon District Council's Central Area Planning Committee will hear full details of the proposals to build the self-contained apartments with five parking spaces and landscaping. Two of the flats would have their own patio areas.

Residents of the flats in the building at the top of the High Street would access the properties via Gate Street.

However, council officers are recommending that the committee rejects the plans.

The reason given in the officers' report to the committee is that the plans would result in the "loss of employment use and a community/service facility" – and that there is not enough evidence that it has been fully marketed for its "existing use" – as a commercial, community or service building.

Although the old police station is in a conservation area, it is not considered that the plans would have a detrimental impact and while parking spaces are limited, council officers say that town centre parking facilities mean they do not object on these grounds.

The applicants are Court Langley Limited.

The meeting will be held at 6pm and members of the public can view the live streaming on Maldon District Council's website here.