Plans to repurpose an "awful" looking Leamington nightclub have been waved through at the latest attempt by district councillors, despite council officers saying they should be refused.

Developer Ni Ann Ltd has already seen applications to turn Smack on Tavistock Street into 47 flats and 48 flats respectively refused, with Warwick District Council planners saying the schemes would be damaging to the heritage of the building.

The firm then submitted another application which would see much of the existing building be retained and another built to create seven student apartments with a total of 32 bedrooms.

Planning officers from the council had recommended the application be refused, but councillors went against their advice and approved the scheme.

Speaking at last night's (June 16) committee meeting, planning consultant Matt Chadwick spoke on behalf of Ni Ann Ltd.

"These applications are about returning this building to a functional and viable use rather than it remaining an under-utilised building that contributes little to the everyday community," he said.

He continued: "The development has been reduced in scale significantly from the appeal scheme.

"The building has lost the majority of its heritage significance, which was recognised by the inspector in the appeals.

advertisement

"Some elements remain.

"While its remaining heritage significance is limited, the applicant sought to minimise that harm while delivering a scheme that will make a viable contribution to housing needs and which will be viable."

An artist's impression of the proposed development (image via planning application)

Meanwhile, Cllr James Kennedy said: "It seems to me, not from a planning professional point of view, that the public benefits are quite significant in terms of bringing back this site which quite frankly looks awful, into significant positive use.

"It also helps to address our shortage of a five year housing land supply."

The application split councillors, with eight voting for it to be approved, and two against.

A council report in advance of the meeting said the plans should be thrown out.

"It is noted that the proposed extent of demolition of the curtilage listed building in this revised scheme represents an improvement overall to the previously refused scheme," it said.

advertisement

"It is however considered that the proposed demolition works will result in a loss of significance, form and character, severing the connection to the grade II listed buildings on Parade, and that the proposed redevelopment, by reason of its height, scale, mass, bulk and design, will culminate in an unacceptable level of harm to the heritage assets.

"Whilst it is acknowledged that the level of harm in comparison to the previous scheme has been reduced, it is also important to note that any identified potential public benefits have also been reduced."