Plans to restore the University Community Sailing Club – which was badly damaged by fire in April – have been approved by Tendring District Council.

Listed building consent has now been given for repairs to the Grade II listed building on Brightlingsea’s Waterside, which include replacing the fire-damaged roof and some of the external cladding and timber frame.

Other work, which the application said would would involve “minimum intervention ” and be “conservation-led” will be restricted to fire-damaged areas with like-for-like repairs matching traditional materials and craftsmanship and carried to retain the character of the building and preserve its architectural detailing and proportions. A full rewire is also planned.

The cause of the fire at the club – a former sail loft thought to date from at least the latter half of the 19th century – was found to be accidental.