A company is appealing after it was refused permission to relocate its office to Halstead.

Brands Direct wants to open new premises at the former Mellons DIY store in Kings Road, in a development which would also involve building three cottages and parking spaces.

The food importing business wants to move its head office from Felsted to Halstead, where many of its staff still live, having been based in Greenstead Green until four years ago.

But Braintree Council rejected the application, which would involve partial demolition of the existing building, for a second time in January.

Planners believed the homes would be “out of character” and with the surrounding area.and expressed concerns about a lack of parking spaces.