Permission has been granted for a shop to be converted into a third adjacent estate agents, despite concerns of a gradual decline in “High Street vitality”.

A planning application from Nancy Venables was approved by Epping Forest District Council on Wednesday (July 29), after councillors decided it was better to have the property in Loughton High Road – currently an InterSport - remain in use than risk leaving it empty.

The bid had been opposed by Loughton Town Council.

Speaking at the meeting, the applicant claimed her independent estate agents business employed local people and supported other businesses.

She said: “We encourage the public to visit our offices, as they do currently where we are in York Hill, therefore bringing more people to the High Street if we are there.”

At the district council meeting, councillor Chris Pond raised the concern that “a whole swathe of prime key retail frontage next to the town centre’s major supermarket” would no longer have any shops.

However, council planner Nigel Richardson said: “We consider that the harm on the vitality and viability of the town centre would not be excessive and with the government being supportive of encouraging all kinds of mixed uses in the town centre, officers have gone along with the recommendation to grant planning permission.”

Councillors voted to approve the plans, after hearing councillor Kenneth Angold Stephens claim that “the alternative will be an empty shopfront for some considerable time.”

Reacting to the decision yesterday the planning clerk for Loughton Town Council, Vivienne Messenger, said: “The town council is disappointed to lose another retail unit as it is keen for the High Road to remain a thriving shopping centre with a good choice of retail outlets for local residents.”