A MALDON menswear shop has been denied permission to expand its store for a second time.

Coes on High Street submitted a planning application to Maldon District Council for the second storey rooftop extension in November.

It followed an initial application for the expansion which was refused in October.

The proposals were for a 4.5m by 4.3 extension to the second floor of the building which would have been used for retail storage.

In its pervious application Coes said the only option it had was to extend after approaches made to neighbouring properties proved fruitless.

Despite amendments being made to the plan Maldon District Council decided to reject the bid.

The decision report said: “The proposed development would appear as an incongruous flat-roofed box, in stark contrast to the pitched roofs in its vicinity, and would appear prominent in the views looking up the High Street.

“The design of the proposed development relates poorly the existing building in terms of siting, scale, bulk and design and would cause detrimental harm to the character and appearance of the building and the streetscene failing to preserve or enhance the special traditional architectural character of conservation area.”

It added that the plans would cause “unjustified” harm to the significance of the conservation area as a heritage asset.

Both Maldon Town Council and Maldon District Council’s conservation officer Tim Howson had objected to the plans.