PLANS for three new houses and two apartments on Maldon High Street have been thrown out.

A bid was submitted to Maldon District Council to demolish the existing buildings of 146-146A on the high street and replace them with a new building of lower floor retail space with two apartments above, and three new houses to the rear, which would have included amenity space, refuse storage and drop off and service parking.

The council have refused the plans, stating the new buildings would result in the site being overdeveloped and cramped.

Additionally, they claimed it would result in harming the amenity and living spaces of the existing occupiers of the neighbouring blocks of flats.