Plans to knock down a former mill in Maldon with asbestos cladding to build a mixed-use development of offices, shops and flats have been recommended for refusal, after councillors raised concerns about the amenity space proposed for the homes.

Mr A Wiseman's proposal to demolish the former silo mill at Hasler's Mill, on Station Road, to build a four or five-storey twin block of nine two-bedroom apartments and two retail units came before Maldon Town Council's planning committee last night (Monday, 21 March).

The plans also involve converting the granary on the site to create a restaurant and café or shops on the ground floor, with separate offices above, and building two two-storey buildings - each with two retail or mixed-use units on the ground floor and offices above.

The plans have been revised following Maldon District Council's refusal of a similar proposal in May 2019 for a development of 10 homes and five commercial units, as officers said it would "cause harm to the character and appearance of the area" with its "excessive scale".

Officers added: "The proposed development would not provide an adequate quality of life for the occupiers of the proposed flats, as a result of noise and disturbance from existing businesses in the vicinity of the site."

A statement submitted with the revised application says the development would create at least 40 jobs in the business units proposed for the site, which it calls "largely redundant" at the moment, to "bring enormous job opportunities to the area".

The new plans do not propose any affordable housing, but the statement says this is no longer a requirement because it does not include more than nine residential units.

It says the revised plans take "an entirely different approach" with "a reduced residential element and greater emphasis on commercial development".

Councillors agreed at last night's meeting that the revised proposal is "totally different", and welcomed the proposed demolition of the mill due to its asbestos cladding.

Councillor Flo Shaughnessy said: "If someone is prepared to take this down and cover that cost that should be applauded.

"We do not want the mill to come down in a storm of the calibre we've experienced recently."

She continued: "If it blew down, there would be a terrible asbestos storm certainly in that part of Maldon - and possibly wider depending on the winds."

Councillor Andrew Lay pointed to the "ugly beauty" of the mill, but agreed: "It is dangerous because it is asbestos so the disposal of that is important."

The application follows the council's draft publication of the North Quay Regeneration Development Brief, which sets out an "ambitious framework that seeks to enable intensified employment-led development with opportunities to capitalise on the water frontages both on and off land", alongside the area's proximity to the town centre.

The former Hasler's Mill site is listed as a development opportunity in the draft brief, which says it offers "a key opportunity is the riverside location for a mixed use including a food and drink offer and visitor attractions to support the visitor economy".

The draft brief says Hasler's Mill has asbestos cladding and notes asbestos removal as a development consideration for the site.

Mr Wiseman already owns other land in the development brief area, and says he is "willing to assist the council in achieving the positive regeneration of the area".

A statement from the Maldon Society also praises the application for creating "public access to the riverside".

It adds: "In this case we feel that the scheme makes an attractive waterside development, generates employment for about 40 persons and rids the riverside of an ugly asbestos clad structure which rather dominates this section of the river."

But councillors also raised concerns at last night's meeting about the private amenity space proposed for the homes.

Councillor Mark Heard, chairman of the district council, said: "I'm not a fan of the building that is there, but what I don't want to do is put in something that people are going to be miserable in."

He continued: "At the moment, no one is living there - no one is living in a cramped space and I feel people will be living in a cramped space."

Members also said there was an "admitted lack of parking provision for the development", which would have 28 car parking spaces and 30 cycle spaces.

The statement with the application says: "It is recognised that this parking provision is deficient.

"However, with the considerable opportunities for public access to the site without use of a motor car, and the likelihood of dual visits to other nearby shops and facilities including Lidl and the Blackwater shopping centre, the need for this development to be dominated by car parking, and in order to encourage walking or cycling, is inappropriate."

But Councillor Lay warned the planned parking provision would "create pressure around that area".

Councillor Heard proposed that members recommend the application for refusal, which was voted through unanimously.

He also called the application in to be heard by Maldon District Council, who will make the final decision.

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