Plans to turn the former Maldon Police Station into offices have been approved, in a move which was welcomed by councillors more than four years after the building became vacant.

Speaking at a meeting of Maldon District Council's central area planning committee last night (Wednesday, 16 March), Councillor Mark Heard said he was "greatly heartened" by the plans.

He said: "I'm delighted that something is going to be done with this building - it's a complete eyesore."

The development will see the creation of 26 full-time and two part-time jobs in the building, built in 1913 on West Square, which will not undergo any external changes as part of the plans.

TFP Financial Planning submitted an application in December last year for the change of use of the building to offices, and is now set to move into the ground floor of the building with 12 full-time and two part-time employees.

The first floor office space will be rented out to other local businesses, providing for around 14 full-time employees spread over four offices.

It follows the closure of Maldon Police Station in July 2017, when a new police base opened in the district council offices on Princes Road.

An application to convert the former station into five self-contained apartments was refused in October 2020 for reasons including the loss of employment space and a community facility.

A statement with the latest plans says the site is a "landmark building" but it has been "boarded up, vacant for over four-and-a-half years, and vulnerable to damage, decay and vandalism".

The closure of Maldon Police Station, it says, was due to the building no longer being suitable for modern policing, no longer being required for the future Essex Police Estates Strategy and being surplus to operational requirements.

The statement adds: "There were no staffing or resource implications as all staff were located to alternative policing locations and the front counter provision and operation functions were relocated to accommodation within the Maldon District Council offices."

In a letter of support, one resident said the plans would "bring life back into a valued building of the community".

She said: "I believe that the police station property is such an important part of the high street, standing at the entry of the road, at the moment looking very dilapidated and, from reading, has been confirmed as not fit for purpose with regards to modern policing.

"As this will bring a wider office space into the Maldon area, it will allow for local businesses to find a home on the high street and within this community."

The proposed hours of operation on the site are normal office hours, between 8.30am and 5.30pm on Mondays to Fridays.

The existing car park will not be changed under the plans.

Councillors did, however, raise concerns at last night's meeting about the cells on the ground floor of the building being demolished to make way for the offices.

Councillor Stephen Nunn said: "I personally would like to see the retention of the cells as part of the integral story of the building."

Councillor Kevin Lagan, chairman of the central area planning committee, added: "We seem to be very quick to remove a lot of the town's history and heritage, and it's just a shame that these types of assets and features that are there won't be there for future generations.

"It is and always will be Maldon's police station, no matter what it becomes."

Planning officers do not have control over internal works such as the demolition of its cells as the former station is not a statutory listed building, but they suggested adding a condition requiring a record to be made of the historic fabric of the building.

The condition is set to be decided by officers in consultation with Councillor Lagan at a later date.

Councillors agreed to approve the development in line with officers' recommendations.

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- Plans for former Maldon Police Station 'a breath of fresh air', says councillor - as bid recommended for approval