OVENS will be firing up in Southminster as plans to replace a former post office building with a bakery shop have been greenlit.

Southminster Post Office closed down for a short period in 2010 on High Street, reopening in 2011 in a different premises.

The old building has been used as storage for the neighbouring property ever since.

Now, Maldon District Council has approved Gclarkitecture’s application to convert the space into a mixed bakery shop and tea room and coffee shop.

Part of the proposal for the Grade II listed building includes a food preparation area and customer WC within the building to which the former post office is attached.

The existing window at the rear of the building is set to be replaced with French doors, but no other external building modifications are planned.

The new business is set to start off with one full time employee, and will have parking spaces at the rear of the building.

Southminster Parish Council previously objected to the plans, stating the business would cause the High Street to become more congested, and the narrow entrance to the rear of the building would be concerning.

Zara Weston, of The Hawthorns, next to the building, also had concerns of congestion. She wrote: “The already narrow pathway and road along the property will become congested, even more during busy periods.

“This poses an increased safety risk to the entrance and exit to The Hawthorns properties adjacent to the main road as this is a blind spot area.”