PLANS to bulldoze factory buildings in a conservation area have been refused.

Tendring Council has thrown out food ingredients company EDME’s plans to demolish the Mistley factory’s boiler house and stand-by generator house.

The report of the decision, submitted to Tendring Council’s planning portal, said Essex County Council Heritage did not support the application and recommended it to be refused.

It added: “Having visited the buildings proposed for demolition, Essex County Council Heritage considered both structures to be of architectural and historic interest and both make a positive contribution to the conservation area.

“The buildings are part of the early phases of the Maltings, they are of group value and contribute to the understanding of the historic composition and use of the site.

“The buildings contain artistic features and fenestration which reinforce the industrial use and form of these historic structures and wider site.”

It also stated no proposals have been brought forward for what is to go in place of the structures if they were to be demolished.

“Essex County Council Heritage consider the proposal will fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area,” it added.

Mistley Parish Council had supported the demolition proposals at its latest planning committee meeting.

Planning permission for the demolition of the same buildings was granted in 2012, however, the consent was not implemented and lapsed.

Anglia Maltings (Holdings), which owns EDME, has recently been given approval to build a state-of-the-art mill four miles away in Horsley Cross, on land next to the A120.

If the scheme is backed by Anglia Maltings, it means an investment of £46.5million will be made to move EDME from its Mistley home of more than 130 years to double its production.

The Mistley site employs 55 staff and is 3.5 acres, whereas the new space would be ten acres in total for the factory and parking.

Once vacant, the Mistley factory would be sold, but the iconic chimney is listed and would be protected.

EDME has been contacted for comment on the decision but had not replied at the time of going to press.