Maldon town councillors have once again proposed to reject plans to turn a former estate agents on the High Street into flats.

This is the fourth time an application to transform the Grade II listed building at 20 High Street, which was previously an office for estate agents Bairstow Eves, has been rejected by the town council's planning committee since January this year.

The committee recommended refusal of the application for planning permission at a meeting last night (Monday, 6 December), after members noted their decision in November to recommend refusal of a separate application for listed building consent for the plans.

Councillor Andrew Lay said it would be "consistent" to "follow the same course of action" by recommending refusal of planning permission alongside listed building consent.

The plans involve creating a work unit and a one-bedroom flat on the ground floor of the historic building.

The applicant, Gary Tann, also hopes to add two one-bedroom flats to the first floor, which would require an extension.

Planning permission and listed building consent must both be granted for the works to go ahead.

Stuart Miles from Vision Planning, a consultant on the application, said in a statement that "the proposal does not result in the complete loss of commercial floorspace".

He added: "The only part of the former frontage workspace that would be lost as a result of this proposal is the area proposed to become the entrance hall for the first floor front flat.

"The remainder of the building was only used occasionally by Bairstow Eves, for meetings, storage and toilets."

But, at last night's meeting, Councillor Mark Heard said it would be "a pity to lose this retail space".

He said: "It would become another shop that would be good for selling matches and nothing else.

"The whole point of the High Street is to have quirky, independent shops and we're ending up with one room shops."

The shop front of the building dates back to the 19th century, while other parts date back to the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.

In the design and access statement for the application, architect Annabel Brown said: "The scheme has been carefully designed to limit any loss of historic fabric and to emulate the detailing of the original building, taking special care to preserve and restore the historic timber frame."

She said the shop front of the building would be "upgraded" to "restore it to the traditional character it once had".

While the conservation officer at Maldon District Council raised no objection to the proposal, aside from adding conditions, the Maldon Society said it would lead to "overdevelopment" of the site.

Objecting to the plans, a spokesperson for the Maldon Society said: "The provision of four dwelling units is overdevelopment of the premises and considerably reduces the floor area of retail space within the High Street business area."

They said the "integrity" of the historic building would be "compromised by the substantial extent of structural alterations" needed to create the new homes.

Councillor Heard also said the flats would be "cramped" and raised concerns about the quality of life for the residents who would live in them.

Councillor Lay proposed to recommend refusal of planning permission for the application, which was seconded by Councillor Flo Shaughnessy and voted through unanimously by members.

Maldon District Council will make the final decision.