AN APPEAL to allow 13 flats to be built in Halstead has been rejected.

Greenfields Community Housing applied to Braintree Council to build the flats at The Tythings.

The plans for seven one-bed flats and six two-bed flats were refused last year because of the effect they would have on the appearance of the area.

Greenfields submitted an appeal in January this year but it was dismissed by inspectors this month.

There had been concerns over highways safety.

The inspector said: “The appeal scheme would provide 25 parking spaces.

“The figure includes a new parking court broadly in the position of the existing garages, three new parking spaces along Abels Road and the inclusion of the existing parking area currently on the Western appeal site.

“The two parking spaces proposed north of the cycle shelter would be difficult to get in and out of and could result in the user of these spaces having to reverse long distances.”

They thought the proposal would adversely affect the highway safety through a displacement of cars onto the street.

The inspector felt the proposal would not be a sustainable development which met the expectations of Government.

They said building the flats would contribute to the economy, but not enough to make a significant difference.