Controversial plans to replace a canalside pub with a four-storey block of flats have been withdrawn.

Developer Cresco Investors Limited had applied to knock down the Waterside Inn and replace it with a 40-bed apartment building.

Cresco had originally applied to Warwick District Council (WDC) to build a five-storey building comprising 42 apartments at the end of 2021, but reduced the scale of the proposed development last year after receiving significant pushback.

But with the Queensway development still raising questions from local bodies, the plans have now been withdrawn.

Warwick Town Council's planning committee objected to the original designs, saying there would not be enough parking spaces.

The council also said there were "concerns about the impact on the canal conservation area" and that the size of the development was not in keeping with the surroundings.

A CGI image of the block of flats (Image via planning application)

Leamington Spa Town Council also lodged an objection.

"Whilst recognising this site lies just outside the Leamington Spa boundary, and in principle supporting the appropriate redevelopment of this brownfield site, Leamington Spa Town Council has concerns about the impact on its infrastructure and canal conservation area of this proposed development," the council's statement said.

LSTC agreed with its Warwick counterparts that there was not enough parking. Adding concerns about cycling provision, massing on the conservation area and traffic.

The council also said that there was not enough information on how many of the flats would be sold as affordable housing.

Cresco, which had planned to build a mixture of one, two and three bed flats, said it has been unable to find a new tenant for the currently-closed Queensway pub.

"It was shown to several operators who had an active requirement to find a premises to lease; however, their response was universally negative," the application said.

The application said the design for the building had taken inspiration from the "local character of the area" and "the site proximity to the canal and the barges that use it".

But a comment from WDC's conservation officer - while not objecting to the application - said: "A development of this scale, height and massing is not considered to reflect the established urban character of this area...nor would it preserve or enhance the appearance and character of the conservation area.

"Therefore, for the aforementioned reasons, I do not support the proposed development."

(Header image by Robin Stott via geograph.org.uk)