SIX new three and four-bedroom apartments are set to be created on land behind a shopping parade.

Harding Homes has applied for planning permission from Colchester Council to create the new flats, as well as landscape and parking areas, behind the Willows Shopping Parade, off Mersea Road.

Plans will also see the car park area at the nearby homes and shops reconfigured, creating additional spaces.

Previous plans for 20 apartments on the site were approved, but only six of these were built.

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A planning report states: "The proposal looks to adjust and improve upon the existing approval by reducing the amount of units from the current and live application.

"We believe that this will be a more sustainable mix of units and will provide a high standard of living as set out within the National Space Standards.

"By reducing the amount of units we are able to exceed the National Space Standards, providing a high standard of living space and provide suitable private amenity space as set out with the local planning authorities local plan."

Colchester Council will have the final say on the plans.