A former hotel is set to be converted in houses and apartments after a planning inspector overturned a decision by district planners.

Warwick District Council (WDC) had refused permission to convert the Glebe Hotel into four houses and four apartments at the end of last year, after 35 members of the public raised objections.

But applicants High Desert International Limited appealed the decision, and have now been told their scheme for the grade II listed hotel can go ahead.

District planners criticised the poor quality of the design and said it would "dominate" the street scene.

But High Desert, who said the pandemic had "effectively hastened" the Barford hotel's struggles, said the project was needed to give the building a new lease of life.

"I conclude that the proposal would constitute high quality design and so would preserve The Glebe Hotel, including its setting, and the character and appearance of the CA [conservation area]," the inspector's report said.

It added: "Furthermore, the proposed layout of the apartments within the building would be sympathetic to its historic floor plan, with the north wall of the rear wing reinstated.

"These works would not be harmful to the special interest of the listed building and those aspects of the scheme visible externally would not be harmful to the character or appearance of the CA, in accordance with the act and policies of the development plan."

The hotel was built in the 1820's as a rectory to the Church of St Peter and remained in private use until 1948 when it became a hotel.

See the application in full here.