DEVELOPERS who want to regenerate a neglected pub say they cannot understand why council bosses have not supported them.

Portia Star Lane bought the empty Heckford Angel, in Maldon Road, Colchester, in 2016.

They had hoped to refurbish the pub in the Grade Two Listed building, and to create a hotel and offices.

But they claim Colchester Council has said the plans are not viable and have now launched a fresh bid to convert the building into a 100-seat restaurant, creating up to 35 jobs.

Company spokeswoman Leigh Cunningham said: “We are just trying to be as transparent as possible.

“We appreciate it is a Grade Two Listed building and the history goes back for over 100 years.

“We don’t want to lose the heritage.

“We are committed to saving the Heckford Angel and giving it a new lease of life for Colchester to enjoy for the foreseeable future.”

Ms Cunningham said the building had been neglected for 20 years and to recoup the extensive refurbish costs, the company needs to attract more business than it would do by operating solely as a pub.

But despite two pre-planning application enquiries with the council, she said officers were not keen on the previous proposals.

Ms Cunningham added: “What we have done, after receiving such negative feedback from Colchester Council, is to now submit a very basic planning application to them.

“They say there is no demand but we have got the zoo nearby and other bespoke public houses.

“We are hoping with a very basic planning application they will approve that.”

The latest plans propose extending the back of the building to create space for a 100-seater restaurant.

The applicants said Birch Parish Council has backed the scheme. Ms Cunningham added: “We have been knocked back so many times.

“We will work with our neighbours to develop something viable for this business but taking into consideration what our neighbours have said.”

In years gone by, the building sat among cottages, rear barns, workshops and maltings but these have been demolished.

Colchester Council aims to decide on the plans next month.

A spokesman said: “The Angel at Heckford Bridge is a listed public house in open countryside for the purposes of planning policy.

“The new owner has approached the council for pre-application planning advice for alternative development proposals.

“These are confidential, but were unfortunately contrary to adopted local plan policies and consequently could not be supported.

“Proposals for the refurbishment of the listed pub were supported however.”