A DEVELOPER has lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate in a bid to turn a derelict building into 18 flats.

Southend Council previously threw out plans to demolish the disused two-storey warehouse, in Redstock Road, and transform it into flats over concern around the impact on infrastructure and healthcare services.

Concerns were also raised that additional homes in the area would “impose an unsustainable burden on healthcare services locally”.

Despite the plans being thrown out the applicant, named only as Mr and Mrs C Morris, has submitted an appeal with the Government’s planning inspectorate in the hope of seeing plans approved.

Ian Gilbert, Labour councillor responsible for the Victoria ward, said: “In the case of this development, there are a couple of things.

“First are the residents’ concerns about overdevelopment and not being in character with the street, which are valid in this case.

“But there is also the NHS objection which is unusual.

“There is a need for more housing in the borough but there is also a need for more infrastructure and better access of health services.

“So, in this case, I will be hoping the original decision is upheld.”

The rejected proposal for 18 flats came after previous plans for 20 flats on the site were thrown out because of overdevelopment.

The updated 18 flat plan included a redesigned frontage and a reduction on the overall footprint of the building, while the number of balconies on homes was also slashed.

When refusing the application, Southend Council officers said: “It is found that the proposed development does not constitute sustainable development, is unacceptable and would be contrary to the development plan and is therefore recommended for refusal.

“The proposed development is of a bulky, incongruous and unacceptable design that would harm the character and appearance of the area.

“The development would provide poor living conditions for future occupiers by failure to reasonably meet the adopted space standards, providing poor daylight and outlook conditions to occupiers of several flats and habitable rooms within flats and proposing a poor-quality garden area with no meaningful landscaping.”