PLANNING permission to turn an historical brewery into modern flats and town houses has been approved.

Hartford End Brewery’s 19th and 20th century buildings, which have stood vacant since 2006, will be converted into 36 apartments and seven town houses, as well as office space.

Yet, despite receiving a facelift, planning consultant Robert Pomery revealed the character of the Felsted site would not be compromised.

“All of us involved in the design were keen to keep the brewery’s features as it is quite a pretty brewery in the setting of the village and therefore there is no reason why that cannot be maintained where possible,” he said.

“Local people felt it was part of the village’s heritage and they did not want to see it demolished, therefore if we can create homes and retain these features then why not.

“We are really please with the design - our objective was to make the best of what we could and get rid of the buildings which are of no benefit, and we have achieved that.”

At a meeting of planning authority Uttlesford District Council’s development control committee last week, councillors were unanimous in handing Hartford End Developments the reigns to breathe life into the “locally important” buildings.

‘This site contains locally important buildings and they have now been vacant for several years. The current proposal would secure a long-term use for the buildings,’ read their report.

As part of the S106 agreements, Hartford End will pay financial contributions of �77,150 towards education provision, off-site provision for affordable housing, and �7000 towards the advertisements for a speed limit reduction along the B1417 and a Bus Clearway Restriction.

Mr Pomery said the legal agreement should be resolved “in the next few weeks” and he believes Hartford End will be keen to get on site “quite quickly”.