Eight new homes could soon be coming to Maldon High Street, under plans to further develop the town centre building which houses Poundstretcher on its ground floor.

Simon Finkelstein, from Sparkstone Management, hopes to build three one-bedroom and five two-bedroom apartments over the first and second floors of the building, at 67 High Street, which is already mixed use - with retail and storage space on the ground and first floors alongside residential accommodation on the first and second floors.

The plans would involve demolishing the building's existing first-floor storage area, to make way for the homes, and extending its ground-floor retail unit to replace this storage space.

A statement with the application says it intends to "create a modern intervention which takes its place in the architectural chronology of the town".

It says relocating the current first-floor storage space to the ground floor "will make the retail unit more efficient in operation as it will be entirely at ground floor level".

It adds: "The removal of this commercial function at first floor and replacement with residential accommodation will also improve the immediate environment and aspects for the existing residents."

Eight new parking spaces - one for each new home - are proposed for the development, alongside two existing spaces for retail staff, cycle parking and a communal garden for residents.

Officers at Maldon District Council granted Mr Finkelstein permission in October 2019 for a development of five new homes in the building, but the revised scheme proposes extra homes and more green space.

The statement with the latest application says it is a "more commercially viable proposal for the site" and "greatly improves the outlook from neighbouring residential properties".

It adds: "Areas that were previously approved for retail storage have now been reduced to create a garden area for residents to the rear of the building."

The homes would be accessed by Old Mill Close, a pedestrian side street off the main high street.

Maldon District Council will make the final decision.

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