A VACANT fish wholesalers is set to be transformed into a new café/coffee shop after plans got the green light.

Plans to change the former fish wholesalers in 43 Hullbridge Road in South Woodham Ferrers into a cafe/coffee shop have been given the go-ahead.

A previous application to turn the shop into a coffee shop, deli and wine bar was refused in October.

Those plans were refused by Chelmsford City Council due to the impact it said the proposed drinking and eating establishment would have on the living environment of nearby residents.

The council found this recent amended scheme, submitted in March, has been revised sufficiently to overcome the prior refusal.

Read more >>> Plans to turn former fish wholesalers into new cafe revealed

The new proposal resulted in objections from the town council and the residents which related to the same planning matters raised during the earlier proposal.

However, this bid is different in terms of its opening hours and the type of service proposed.

The current scheme is a café-type premises, not a drinking/eating establishment as proposed previously. It will not serve alcohol.

The business would also operate during day-time working hours, 7am to 5pm, so would not result in disturbance during evenings.

In comparison, the previous scheme proposed 10pm as a closing time.

Therefore, the new plan to turn the empty shop into a café has been considered to “retain a balanced relationship with the neighbouring properties nearby” and council officers said it would result in no adverse impact on the character of the street.

The eat-in will offer breakfasts, light lunches, pasta, pizza, sandwiches, pastries and snacks as well as soft drinks and coffees.

It will also provide takeaways.