AN EMPTY clinic surrounded by listed buildings is on the market and could be turned into more unwanted homes, it is feared.

Concerned residents have hit out at NHS Property Services, which has put the Mistley Clinic, in New Road, up for sale with Savills.

Richard Hartley, chairman of Mistley Thorn Residents’ Association, said a for sale board went up on March 5 but the deadline for offers is March 23 - only 14 working days.

But fears are heightened by the unused Mistley Church Hall next door, which residents have been calling to be reopened for community use since it closed more than a year ago.

The association had the 100-year-old Grade II listed building registered as an asset of community value and villagers fought off a planning application - by Mistley with Manningtree Parochial Church Council - to turn the hall into a four-bedroom home.

But it is still closed and Mr Hartley said a small part of the ceiling collapsed and has still not been fixed.

He added: “Many residents feel the church has pursued a policy of managed decline in relation to the building.

“The hall has a great deal of history to it, it is part of the fabric of the community.

“It was built for the community and gifted to the community in 1911 “The local vicar was made the trustee, but it was given to the church to look after on behalf of the community.”

Mr Hartley said a pre-application enquiry has been sent to Tendring Council with plans showing ten new homes on the current clinic site.

But he fears the church hall, known locally as The Institute, would become part of a housing development as all attempts to rent or manage it have been turned down by.

Rt Revd Roger Morris, bishop of Colchester, said: “The Parochial Church Council, as managing trustees, are bound by charity law to only use the land and the buildings for the particular church-related purposes for which is was given. “This means the church can only agree to expend money on the hall and make the hall available to users if it fulfils, or is of benefit to, the charitable purposes for which is was built.

“We are continuing to explore possible ways forward we hope will be of benefit to the wider community.”

A NHS Property Services spokesman said: “The former Mistley Clinic building has stood empty since being declared surplus to the needs of the NHS by North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group in April 2017. “Marketing began in early February 2018 and we are happy to allow prospective buyers extra time to submit offers as part of our remit to secure maximum value for surplus sites.Proceeds from the sale will be reinvested in the NHS. “We have carried out a heritage assessment as part of our informal pre-planning application discussions with the local planning authority about our proposal for new homes on the site.”