Plans to turn a Warwick town centre office into two flats has been given the green light at the second attempt.

Planning permission to convert two storeys of the Market Place building into residential accommodation had previously been thrown out by Warwick District Council (WDC), with a subsequent appeal dismissed by a planning inspector.

But Cobalt Development's fresh plans to repurpose the grade II listed site have now been signed off by district planners.

"The proposal is not considered to result in harm to the character of the area, heritage matters, residential amenity, highways safety, flood risk, ecology or climate change and adaption," a council report said. 

"The proposal is therefore considered to represent a sustainable form of development and it is recommended that planning permission be granted."

The previous plans, which were blocked in June 2023, raised concerns about living conditions and privacy.

The flats sit above the former Brogan's Irish Bar (image by James Smith)

So the updated scheme included rearrangements to the two one-bed flats, to make them more open plan, and to have some of the windows frosted to prevent overlooking.

Also included in the application was an extension to the rear of the building in order to build a new staircase.

"The rear service yard will be transformed from a drab and depressing atmosphere into and inviting entrance fit for such a building in central Warwick," the planning application said. 

"It is proposed that the unsightly corrugated iron roof will be taken down and replaced with an enclosed staircase that is sensitive and accommodating to the surrounding buildings. 

"A similar scale staircase can be found on a modern building at the opposite end of the courtyard."

The soon-to-be flats sit above two retail units, one of which - the former Brogan's Irish Bar - is currently on the market with local agent Browmich Hardy.

See the full application here.