PLANS to transform a former bank into a fast food chain takeaway in Maldon have been given the green light.

Maldon District Council has granted plans for a Papa Johns to open in the High Street.

An application was made to change the use of 68 High Street to a hot food takeaway unit.

The site of the takeaway is the former Lloyds bank, which closed earlier this year.

A previous planning application was thrown out by planning bosses due to the “detrimental impact on highway safety or the free flow of traffic”.

A revised application was made, which has now been granted by the council.

Bosses said no objection was raised in relation to the new development as highways concerns raised in the previous application had now been addressed.

The proposed unit would occupy the ground and first floors of the existing building, with plans also detailing minor external alterations to the building.

The internal changes include the creation of a customer area, with a sales counter and breakfast bar facing out to the High Street.

The kitchen contains a double-deck oven, three-tier heat rack, washing up area, preparation and dispatch areas, racking, and a fridge and freezer.

The existing shopfront, double doors, and frames will be retained, with new signage to match the dimensions of the existing signage.

The fresh plans received one objection comment, saying: “The location is not suitable and will very likely cause traffic issues. I do not believe the business owner has Maldon's heritage in their heart.”

Maldon Town Council had called for refusal of the application, also citing road issues.

It said: “The building is located on a busy mini roundabout in the very narrow High Street and the town council is concerned that highway safety would be jeopardised by patrons stopping their vehicles on, or near, the roundabout, as seen regularly in other locations on the High Street.”

A conservation officer as well as county highways and environmental health bosses had no objections.