A “depressing" site is just a few weeks away from transformation, if amended plans are given the green light tonight.

The former Government fisheries laboratory (Cefas) in Remembrance Avenue, Burnham, has been a vacant site since 2006 when the department closed, shedding 110 jobs.

The future of the site has generated much debate over the years with some people calling for it to remain as offices and others saying it should be turned into housing.

In December 2013, plans to demolish the building and build seven town houses and seven detached houses were given the go ahead, but numerous conditions were attached to the permission.

In 2014, the site changed hands and was bought by George Braithwaite, of Hitcham, Suffolk, who has revised the scheme on the advice of Maldon District Council’s Conservation officers to make it more in keeping with the area.

 

*See the MBS for more.