PLANS to demolish a former Leamington social club to make way for student flats have been refused by Warwick District Council.
An application was submitted to turn Priors Street club – based next to the Clemens Street canal bridge in Old Town – into three student flats with 19 bedrooms.
The building is currently used as a homeless shelter during the weekends by Leamington Winter Support Night Shelter.
The council received 16 objections to the proposals and have refused the plans on the grounds it would more than double the recommended amount of multi-occupancy-homes in the area, set out in the Local Plan.
Councillors also agreed the proposals would ‘harm’ existing residents and the character of the area.
A similar application was put forward last year and refused in February on similar grounds.
