A FRESH bid to transform a town centre eyesore which has been described as a "blot on the landscape" has been launched.

Plutus Estates is seeking full planning permission to demolish derelict buildings at Broomhills Industrial Estate, in Pods Brook Road, Braintree, before building 81 new homes.

This would see 59 houses and 22 flats created, alongside a new car park and informal park.

The developer had an application to build 107 homes on the same site rejected this year and failed to overturn the decision through the appeal process.

A planning inspectorate ruled the proposed layout of the 107 homes was not acceptable and the number of dwellings being proposed were too large.

Plutus Estates has now reduced the number of homes with its latest plan, meaning it no longer plans to build along Rayne Road.

The developer also says the dwellings will be "carefully designed to respect the neighbouring properties".

One resident living in Clare Road, close to the estate, has already written a letter supporting the application to Braintree Council, arguing any development is preferable to the existing state of the land.

The industrial estate has allegedly become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour in recent years, with those living nearby labelling the abandoned industrial units a hazard.

The resident supporting the latest proposals for the land said: "The site is a blot on the landscape which should be resolved with as much haste as possible. It is almost better to have any development rather than the current situation. This proposal can only be of benefit for us maintaining or improving our property values in the long term."

Plans to build a new Sainsbury's supermarket have previously been mooted for the troubled site, however Plutus Estates say housing is now the only option as the existing industrial units are "nearing the end of their life".

The planning statement adds: "The likelihood of securing businesses with strong covenants on this site is so low that the redevelopment of the site for employment cannot be justified in business terms.

"The redundant employment nature of the site is further supported by the allocation for housing under the Draft Local Plan. Only residential development in this location will allow this underutilised brownfield site to be redeveloped."

Braintree Council will have the final say on the plans.