PLANS to extend a block of flats have been objected to by a council after the move was deemed “inappropriate for the area”.

Braintree Housing Company is looking to build a two-storey rear extension and four-storey front extension to Croft House.

Croft House is a late 20th-century block of flats just outside the Halstead town centre conservation area in Parsonage Street.

The developers are also looking to add a rear attic storey with a sloping roof, as well as a cycle and bin store to the front, and remodelling the yard behind to provide parking.

The conservation area was designated in 1969, but there is currently no conservation area appraisal document.

Nearby listed buildings include the grade two listed house at 9 Parsonage Street, numbers 1-7 Parsonage Street, and the grade two listed Congregational Church.

That puts Croft House within the setting of the conservation area and the listed buildings.

The site has an open ground floor level for parking and flats on two storeys above.

Planners say the new design seeks to be “sensitive to conserve and enhance the local features of architectural, historic and landscape importance as part of the onservation area”.

Developers also said the extensions to the existing development “would not have a significant detrimental impact on the general street scene in terms of character and appearance”.

However, at the last Halstead Town Council meeting, councillors objected to the plans.

Janet Atkinson proposed the objection to the application, saying it was inappropriate for the area, with the modern design very close to grade one and grade two listed buildings.

In addition, it was argued there was not enough parking allocated and some of the windows were overlooking existing houses.

This objection was seconded by Gary Warren and carried with five in favour and one abstention.

Halstead Town Council does not have the final decision, which will be made by Braintree Council.