The Rosalind Franklin Laboratory is set to become a permanent feature in the district after councillors granted permission for its planning permission to be extended.

The Harrison Way lab first opened in July 2021 - six months later than intended - to help tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originally allowed to run until February 2023, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency has now been granted full planning permission by Warwick District Council for the former Axiom building to permanently become a medical research facility.

Permission was also granted at this week's planning committee meeting for the Old Ford Foundry Car Park, on Myton Road to be resurfaced and marked with 508 parking spaces, including 26 for EV charging.

A shuttle bus will also be provided from the car park to the factory.

Councillors had questioned whether a former bund at the back of the car park could be restored but were told by officers there was no material planning reason to enforce this.

Councillors eventually voted by 11 votes to one in favour of granting permission.

A council report recommended the scheme be given the go-ahead, and said: "The proposed retention of the laboratory and Old Ford Foundry Car Park is considered to represent an appropriate use of both sites, which do not have an unacceptable impact on neighbouring amenity, nor have an unacceptable impact on the highway network.

"Adequate parking arrangements are considered to have been provided, and will be monitored through use of a travel plan.

"It is highlighted that the scheme delivers the potential to provide a significant number of jobs within the district, and provides significant public health benefits in responding to the current and any future pandemics."

The application stated that the facility has processed over 7.3 million Covid-19 tests so far and would help tackle "both current and future infectious disease threats and improve resilience in response to future pandemics".

However, the lab has come under fire from local MP Matt Western who welcomed an investigation published by the Independent which claimed that millions of pounds of taxpayers' money had been wasted on the facility.

It claimed the lab has never reached more than 20 per cent of its operating capacity.

Despite this, Cllr Oliver Jacques said at this week's committee meeting: "We have to acknowledge that the laboratory is an important asset to the town in terms of employment and research and it has been operating successfully for 12 months.

"So I think we must go ahead with officers' recommendations and grant permission."