A planning application requesting changes to a previous approval of new Maldon Salt Headquarters has been submitted to the Council.

The intended headquarters building would sit in Oval Park, Hatfield Road, Langford, approximately three miles northwest of Maldon.

The 69,244 square foot building is set to offer office space, a marketing suite, development kitchen, hospitality suite, staff welfare space, production and packaging area, as well as warehousing and distribution facilities.

The expansion would allow the iconic Sea Salt firm to double production, with the new site to offer the similar floorspace to five Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Despite the original application for the building being approved back in March last year, a new application submitted on October 24, 2024 asks the council to consider the removal of three conditions previously cited in the approval.

These conditions include Conditions 24, 25 & 26 which, in summary, would require the developer to make off-site highway improvements, consider the amendment of a Traffic Regulation Order and upgrade bus services both by building an improved bus lay-by and shelter, and by developing the existing hourly service between Hatfield Peverel and Maldon.

Three developers planning to build at Oval Park had originally agreed to share the cost of implementing the conditions. This agreement has since become unviable after car manufacturing business Tecniq pulled out of the deal, alongside other issues.

Maldon Salt now says the cost of implementing the conditions alone would cause "significant financial difficulties" for the company. 

It also argues that the improvement works to Hatfield Road and the bus services would not be the most appropriate way to encourage staff to travel to work by non-car modes, due to their working patterns and home locations. 

It has instead proposed a newly developed Travel Plan suggesting a mini-bus service for staff instead. 

Production of Maldon Salt currently takes place in Goldhanger, with salt stored and checked at the Maldon Wycke Hill site.

The Planning Services at Maldon District Council will soon consider the amendments.