A controversial bid to build flats in Leigh Broadway has been put on ice after a committee looking at the plans descended into a "shambles".

Southend Council's development control committee met yesterday to consider the proposals for a block of flats at the Midel cleaning supplies store.

However, councillors were told unexpectedly there were two identical applications for the site, forcing them to put a decision on hold. Developers Pike and Partners asked if one of the applications could be fully looked at and the other deferred, as they were talking to the owners of a nearby car sales site about a further redevelopment.

Ron Price (Con, Prittlewell) said: "Many of us know that on a recent planning application for flats in Leigh we got it wrong. I don't want this to happen again."

Published Thursday July 22, 2004

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