A vandalised building is set to be demolished to make way for a new pub and holiday lodges.

Maldon District Council’s central area planning committee gave the green light for the development of a new pub and 12 holiday lodge caravans at the site of the existing Mill Beach pub, off Goldhanger Road, Heybridge.

Plans include the demolition of the existing building to create a new pub with a residential apartment on the first floor and outdoor seating on a terrace.

The Mill Beach pub originally closed in 2018 and was boarded up in April 2019.

Since then it has been heavily vandalised and used by squatters.

A number of break-ins were also reported and residents were left wondering what would happen to the premises.

A car park providing 25 parking space will also be built as part of the plans and one space next to each lodge.

The plans also include a footpath running from Goldhanger Road to the seawall to link with the existing footpath.

Only one objection was made to the council by a resident who wanted the existing building to be maintained.

It said: “Though much abused I would have liked to see this period building retained.

“With quality fitting and properly managed this ought by rights to be a ‘destination pub’.

“With regard to the application for holiday homes, do we really want to see the whole of the shore-side in this area obliterated in chalets and caravans and lose the only space where activities accessible to the general public can be held?”

A number of comments were made in support of the application, stating that the site had been an “eyesore” for the last few years.

One said it would be a much-needed upgrade to the site and bring in “much-needed tourism”.

Before becoming the Mill Beach pub, the site was part of a piece of land called Barrow Farm.