Plans to demolish a vacant Southminster pub to make way for three flats and a convenience food shop have been submitted to Maldon District Council. 

The Queens Head, in Queen Street, closed in 2022, following a reported period of steady decline in business over several years. Attempts to find an alternative pub operator have been unsuccessful. 

Real estate company Reichman Properties says there is a relatively high number of other drinking establishments in Southminster for a village of its size. 

"Given the failure of the previous pub business and lack of interest from other pub operators, an alternative use of the site is needed," Planning Director John Bowen said.  

A planned one to two-storey building will provide two commercial units, including a shop on the ground floor. Three flats are planned for the first floor, requiring modified access arrangements, parking, and refuse storage. 

One resident who lives next door to the former pub strongly objects to the application. They raised concerns over the number of customers visiting the shop late at night and early in the morning.  

"We have two very good food stores in the village which have been here for many years which will suffer if this store goes ahead," they said. 

A period of consultation began on Friday 13 October. The application is due to be determined by the council by December 5. 

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