Plans to turn a hairdressing salon into a house has been rejected amid fears that it would lead to more town centre shops closing to make way for homes.

Estate agents Roland James, which has owned the Baileys Hair Gallery building, in Baileys Gant, since 1976, applied to Braintree Council to convert the business into a two-bedroom home.

Plans include changing the ground floor into a living room-cum-diner with a separate kitchen and converting the second floor and treatment room into two bedrooms.

The hairdressers, which has been operating from the building for more than 16 years, employs seven people.

See the Braintree Times for the full story.