The company behind plans for 46 retirement flats between Warwick and Leamington Spa has launched a bid to force through the plans after they were refused by council planners.

Warwick District Council (WDC) last year refused McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd's application for the three-storey building at Harbury Lane.

The scheme received multiple objections from residents, local councillors and Bishops Tachbrook Parish Council before being thrown out.

But now McCarthy and Stone has submitted an appeal to the planning inspectorate in an attempt to get the decision overturned.

In a lengthy statement to launch the appeal, the firm said: "The appellant considers the proposal to be of a high-quality design that complements the area that will provide a high quality living environment for its intended future occupants, and that no harm arises.

"The planning benefits highlighted above weigh heavily in favour of the proposed development and are therefore material considerations in the determination of the appeal proposal."

Plans show the development would provide 29, one-bed and 17, two-bed apartments.

It would be built next to the existing Oakley Grange care home, but would be on land that was originally earmarked for community facilities.

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This was the reason behind many of the objections submitted to the original application.

When plans were refused last year, a council report said: "When considering all the relevant matters within the planning balance, officers consider that the adverse impacts of granting planning will significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits identified.

"The development is therefore considered to represent an unsustainable form of development and it is recommended that planning permission be refused."

WDC will have the chance to present its case before a decision is made on the appeal.

Click here to see the application in full.