A Braintree pub will be turned into offices for an accountants firm.

Last Tuesday, Braintree Council decided to grant permission to convert the Queen’s Head pub, in Rayne Road, into offices for MMJC Properties Ltd, based in Manor Street, Braintree.

The accountants firm wants to move to the pub building to expand the business from its current 15 employees.

A planning statement, on behalf of MMJC Properties, suggested that the pub was not a viable business due to its position in the town centre compared to central Braintree pubs, such as The Bull or J D Wetherspoon, and restaurants at Braintree Freeport.

The statement read: “This public house was marketed from November 2013 by Young and Smith, specialist licensed property agents, without any interest from anyone wishing to maintain it as a public house.

“The competition in the town for such licensed premises in more central positions or out of town such as Freeport makes such locations not viable for continued use.”

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.