Council planners have granted planning permission for an office in the centre of Warwick to be turned back into homes.

Warwick District Council had already granted listed building consent for the works on the grade II listed building, but has now given the green light for a full planning application.

The scheme will see Signature Quality Refurbished Homes ltd turn the High Street office into two homes, with a single storey extension built on the back of one of the homes.

Signing off on the application, a council report said: "Through the course of the application, amendments have been sought to add glazing bars to new fenestration proposed to reduce the large amounts of glazing."

It continued: "Overall, it is considered that the amended proposals would preserve the special architectural and historic interest of the listed building, and any nearby listed buildings, and preserve the appearance and character of the conservation area."

Internal works will include removing internal partitions, changing windows, creating a new bathroom and turning the office rooms into bedrooms.

"This is to preserve and mitigate any harm to the historic fabric of the building, whilst still providing any future occupiers with a characterful home that has evolved to suit modern living," the application said.

As with other similar applications, council planners also had to consider that the local authority is unable to show it has a five-year supply of houses.

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This means any application for new homes is considered on what is called 'tilted balance' which means plans are generally approved unless "any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits".

The planned extension to the rear of the property (image via planning application)