Plans to build a new car showroom on Farmer Ward Road have been approved by Warwick District Council.

The scheme for the Bridge Works building will see a commercial unit built between the existing building and the boundary wall to "diversify" the offering at the property.

Initial plans also included two second-floor flats but this part of the scheme was scrapped as it was "was not considered acceptable" by the council.

"The proposed commercial unit will provide a small affordable rentable commercial unit in a highly accessible location with the intension of supporting new and existing small businesses," the application said.

"The unit will have minimal impact on the street scene and the surrounding areas and can be accommodated into the workings of Bridge Works, regarding access and parking and facilities."

Plans said that Wilco Autos - a Bridge Works tenant since 1987 - would be given first refusal on the new space as the business continues to grow.

The application said the new unit would not be used for repairs, and would be offered to another tenant, Heritage Motors, if Wilco did not take up the space.

Approving the plans, a WDC report said the works would not impact on neighbours and would make use of a "largely redundant" piece of land.

"Noting that the proposal would not result in any appreciable loss of employment land, or any loss of the established uses within the site, the introduction of a commercial sui generis car sales use on the site is considered acceptable in principle," it added.

Plans state that the salesroom would only be open for business between 8.30am and 5.30pm on weekdays and Saturday 8.30am to 1.00pm.