A developer has lodged an appeal after it was refused permission to build a budget supermarket in Witham.

Aldi is set to open on the Maltings Estate and has already been granted overarching planning permission as part of the masterplan for the site.

In November, a council officer made a delegated decision to refuse the detailed planning application on design grounds.

Witham Town Council later argued that as it had recommended it for approval, as long as a hedge remained, and therefore the officer should not have taken the decision.

Councillor Paul Ryland, chair of the town’s planning committee, wrote to Braintree Council chief executive Nicola Beach saying the decision was against council policy.

But Braintree Council claimed the town council’s support was not regarded as complete support but rather as comment and therefore it decided against taking the matter before committee.

Developer Churchmanor Estates has now lodged an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

A decision will be made by an inspector following the receipt of written representations, which must be received by Thursday.

Witham Town Council’s planning committee is due to discuss the appeal at a meeting tonight.