WANT to know what's changing in your town? Here are some planning applications for south Essex over the last week.

A WORKSHOP will be transformed into a house after a council approved plans.

The ground floor workshop, in Castle Road, Hadleigh, will be developed into a house with a garage after Castle Point Council approved the plans last week.

The project will also see the building of an external parking and outdoor area.

A DEVELOPER hopes to bulldoze a block of garages in Benfleet to make way for a new home.

Horton Homes applied to Castle Point Council for permission to replace a number of garages in Church Road, Hadleigh, with a two-bedroom bungalow.

The developer is hoping for a decision in early May.

If the application is successful, the bungalow will be built with red brick and a grey tiled roof.

A PETROL station is hoping to extend the hours it sells alcohol.

The Costcutter, in Canvey High Street, has launched a bid to sell alcohol until midnight, and late night refreshments until 5am.

Written representations, which need to be made by Friday, April 1, can be made by writing to the Castle Point Council’s licensing department, in Kiln Road, Thundersley.

For more information, see castlepoint.gov.uk

TWO Southend strip clubs have applied to renew licences.

The Foresters, in Marine Parade, has applied to Southend Council to replace its existing licence to run between 10am and midnight Sundays to Thursdays and 10am to 2am Fridays and Saturdays.

Sunset in The Stables, Lucy Road, has applied to renew its existing licence, which runs from noon until 2.30am Sundays to Thursdays and noon until 3.30am Fridays to Saturdays.

THREE houses will be built in Hockley.

An application to demolish the existing dwelling and build three detached houses on land adjacent to 3 The Spinneys has been approved.

The proposal includes associated parking.

IT looks like the end of an era after plans emerged to demolish a popular community centre.

The No 2 OAP Club hall, in Central Avenue, Canvey, which was built in 1952, could be knocked down to make way for homes.

The club decided last February the building was not fit for use due to structural issues, and it is unable to afford the cost of fixing the problems.

Development company Horton Homes has now applied to Castle Point Council for the demolition of the centre and construction of two detached homes.

Gerry Hemsworth, 81, of Waarem Avenue, Canvey, chairman of the No 2 OAPClub, said he would be sad to see the hall go.

He said: “We have a lot of very fond memories from the times that we have had at the centre.

“ We do miss the hall quite a lot and it was well used by us and other groups for parties and various events.

“We have had to move premises just to keep our club going and open really. Our newhall is not as large as our old hall and we cannot hold events as large as we used to.”

BASILDON Council has received an application to install a telecoms mast with four dishes at the Michelin Tyres depot, in Bramston Link, Laindon.

A PLAY area in Basildon has closed to the public while it undergoes a major revamp.

The playground, in Great Gregorie, has been fenced off and equipment removed.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “A new play area is being built on the site, which is funded by Basildon Council’s member investment fund.”

A PLANNING application for a bar and restaurant at 10 Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh, has been withdrawn.

MORE than 1,100 people have registered an interest in a 110-home development in Laindon.

Redrow is building St Nicholas Mews on fields off Ballards Walk, previously a popular dog walking route.

Temme English, which is marketing the estate, is holding a launch event for the development on Saturday, March 19.