A “dilapidated" commercial centre at the heart of a housing estate is set to receive a much needed facelift.

Rickstones Neighbourhood Centre, located between Dorothy Sayers Drive and Laburnum Way in Witham, is currently occupied by four businesses, two of which are takeaway restaurants, with another four units sitting empty.

Plans have been revealed to redevelop the buildings located at the centre, refreshing the retails units and building up to 25 flats.

A planning statement, prepared by JLL Planning and Development Services on behalf of the applicant reads: “The buildings within the application site are dilapidated and in need of improvement.

“The orientation of the buildings makes for an incompatible neighbourhood centre which is unsightly when viewed from Dorothy Sayers Drive and Laburnum Way.

“The overall quality of the public space is poor and the interconnecting areas of hard standing are unkempt.

“Rickstones Neighbourhood Centre has been neglected for some time which has contributed to its decline over the years.”

The statement also says that 50 per cent of the eight units currently available at the centre are empty - partly because of its unsightly appearance.

Along with 430sqm, about one and a half tennis courts, of retail space the new plans also include a new “plaza” and landscaped areas.

A planning officer has recommended the application is supported by Witham Town Council.

In a statement the officer said: “The existing site is arguably one of the sites in greatest need of redevelopment in Witham which in the view of the reporting officer is underutilised and is generally negative in appearance equivalent to urban decay.

“The proposed redevelopment of the site is comprehensive, offering a series of new retail and living spaces of up to 25 units.

“Overall, it is the view of the reporting officer that this proposal would be of overwhelming positive benefit to the local area and provides an opportunity to regenerate a visually unattractive and underutilised area.”

The car park currently has space for 25 car, with the plan being to maintain all of the spaces.

To view more of the plans, search 18/00019/OUT on Braintree Council's planning portal.