The Times' old Braintree offices could be converted into flats and shops, along with the former comic book shop next door.

The former Braintree and Witham Times premises has been vacant since 2016 when the newspaper moved to offices across the road.

The shop next store, Blast Comics, closed in May and moved to another store further down the High Street, which left units 76 and 78 High Street empty.

An application has now been submitted to Braintree Council by Stallan Braintree Ltd to turn the first and second floors into three one-bedroom flats, with five one-bedroom flats to be built at the back of the building after extensions from the 20th century are demolished.

The application has so far received seven objection comments, including from neighbouring shop The Natural Way.

Owner Richard Sambridge said: "The access to the proposed flats is via shared access way and is only suitable for one vehicle to use at a time, and is in constant use, for deliveries to the rear of my property and access from staff and our own home delivery vehicles.

"The proposed plans only allows for 3 parking spaces for 8 flats, and no visitor parking, where do they propose these vehicles park?

"The proposed location of the bins is within a metre of our coffee bar window, and will be too close for safe hygiene."

The application also requests a change of use for the ground floors of both buildings, to turn them into a single open plan shop with additional use for professional and financial services and restaurant and cafes.

The practice manager of R Patel and Associates Dental Surgery also objected on the grounds of parking and access.

They said: "The area outside the front door we try and reserve for disabled and is continually used also by large vehicles with tail lifts, which bring in residents from elderly homes for treatment, if it is not available it causes problems for the driver and the elderly or disabled.

"It was so bad recently that Dr Patel had to help a disabled patient access the property for dental treatment from the adjacent road of the church yard and resulted in torn ligaments to his shoulder."

A determination deadline was set for yesterday, July 26.

To comment on the application visit publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk and use reference 17/00790/LBC.