NEW scaffolding is needed around a dilapidated listed building as a "matter of urgency", it has been claimed.

Owners of Pound Farm House, in Main Road, Dovercourt, have planning permission to build 30 new homes on the land, which will help fund repairs to the derelict 17th-century building.

But before work can start, a list of planning conditions set by Tendring Council have to met.

The third of these is to stabalise the run-down Grade II listed building and make it water-tight.

But council officers have criticised current scaffolding claiming it fails to support the building and only acts as a waterproof shield.

Tim Snow, of Tim Snow Architects, said work is set to start on the site within weeks and then any structural support necessary will be installed as needed.

"The building is structurally sound, it's not about to collapse or anything like that," he said.

"By this time next month hopefully work will have started.

"We can then get in the site to see what is needed."