A BID has been revealed to increase the number of holiday lets on Osea Island.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Maldon District Council for up to 30 holiday accommodation units at five "discrete" locations across the central section of the island.

The site is land east north east of Manor House in The Chase on Osea Island, near Heybridge.

According to documents in the application, the island currently has 41 holiday let homes of various sizes and a single home providing permanent accommodation.

As a part of the holiday let business the island also runs a restaurant, shop and bar and accommodates a recording studio.

Its recording studios have been used by famous faces such as Charli XCX, Labrinth, The Weeknd, George Ezra and and more.

The island also has an entertainment/outdoor performance licence for up to 5,000 people.

It is also a popular filming and photography location, where filming for The Woman in Black and its sequel took place.

Most recently it was the setting for Sky’s psychological thriller The Third Day starring Jude Law.

Gazette:

Jude Law on set. Picture: David Johnson

Around 200 cast and crew worked on the island, which is referenced in the show, as part of the production.

In a statement, the applicant says: "It has been determined that 85 bed spaces would be required to secure long term economic viability though the form of delivery of these spaces will be intrinsically linked to market and tourism requirements and the necessity to meet both current pandemic and post pandemic demand.

"The figure of up to 30 holiday let properties is therefore illustrative of a quanta of build rather than a set number of structures."

They also say the potential for impacts from flood risk were mapped and such areas which were located in flood zones two and three were removed from consideration "to ensure visitor safety in all potential circumstances". 

All matters of detail are reserved for future determination except for means of access and scale.

Maldon District Council will rule on the application.