Campaigners have lost their battle to save a closed Warwick pub from being turned into a house, but concerns were raised about how hard the owners had tried to reopen it.

Warwick District Council's (WDC) planning committee last night granted permission for the Punch Bowl to be turned into a house, bringing an end a long-running planning battle.

Secret Properties Ltd has at last been given permission to repurpose the site at The Butts, having already seen a previous application refused.

But speaking on behalf of Warwick Town Council - which objected to the application - Cllr Dave Skinner questioned how hard the applicant had tried to let out the venue before bidding to turn it into a house.

"The Punch Bowl has been a pub for over 200 years being in a significant location between two major routes," he said at last night's (March 12) meeting. 

"It is part of Warwick's cultural heritage having previously been well used, noted by the number of objections. 

"It has been a key community asset to the town's people."

He continued: "This is proven by the number of well established businesses in the area showing interest in taking it on, knowing it was very much still a viable business. 

"These were batted away or ignored, together with setting an unrealistic price and financial burdens, meaning the owners never gave it a realistic chance to be properly marketed."

District councillors also raised concerns about the viability of turning the pub into a house and whether a further application could then be made to turn it into an HMO, but were told they could only assess the application before them.

The scheme will see some of the 20th century extensions removed, and some of the ground floor doors and windows reinstated.

As with the previous application, there will also be internal alterations, with the kitchens removed.

A huge number of objections had also been received from locals. And even though councillors sympathised with their calls, the application for the grade II listed building was eventually approved on a split decision.

Cllr Judith Falp said: "It is one of these where I don't like it. 

"But apart from the marketing - which has been explained to me why we don't have to have a marketing report - I am struggling to find a planning reason to refuse it."

She added: "I really don't like the scheme, I think it is a real shame that the public house isn't there.

"But I cannot find a planning reason to refuse it."

See the full council report here.