AMBITIOUS plans to bring a new retail row and more than 20 flats to Witham have been given a boost after being recommended for approval ahead of a crunch planning meeting.

In a planning report by Braintree Council, planning officers outlined their opinion on the development proposal.

It comes as independent developers seek permission to revamp the Rickstones Neighbourhood Centre in Witham.

The rundown site is located at the junction of Laburnum Way and Dorothy Sayers Drive and was formerly known as Elm Rise Shopping Precinct.

Developers have been attempting to revamp the site since 2007 and a bid in 2018 was eventually withdrawn.

The developers have owned the site for more than 30 years and their most recent plans bid would see existing structures demolished and replaced with three to five commercial units and 21 new flats.

The commercial spaces would be for business, service and takeaway use.

Plans would also include landscaping, gardens and a car park.

The application already has backing from the council’s planning committee after they agreed to grant permission on February 8 subject to the applicants entering into a Section 106 agreement.

However, following the adoption of the council’s new Section 2 local plan in July and the agreement not yet being over the line, the application had to be updated.

It means councillors will have a second chance to review the application and make a ruling on October 18.

A report by planning development manager Christopher Paggi said: “The redevelopment of the site would provide new residential units to replace the existing flats which have a tired appearance and provide an additional 14 dwellings.

“The provision of this housing would also deliver associated economic and social benefits.

It would also make a small additional contribution to the council’s housing land supply.

“The application in this case proposes new commercial units to replace the existing facilities, many of which are in a poor condition, and a number of which stand empty and boarded up.

“The new commercial units will be new purpose-built buildings which should be attractive to commercial users and it is hoped will help create a vital and sustainable neighbourhood centre.

“Officers have concluded that the benefits of the proposal outweigh the adverse impacts, including the conflict with the Rickstones Neighbourhood Centre SPD.”