Local councillors have blocked plans to demolish the Woodside Hotel to make way for 55 homes, despite planning officers saying the scheme should go ahead.

Warwick District Council's (WDC) planning committee last week refused to grant planning permission for the controversial development, criticising the sustainability of the proposed homes.

Council planners had recommended Vistry Partnerships West Midlands be given the green light for the scheme, which would have seen the Victorian mansion house flattened to make way for 43 houses and a block of 12 apartments.

"The layout demonstrates a high quality scheme which is acceptable in overall terms including in respect of the integration of built development within the surrounding landscape and the site provides additional benefits in securing appropriate links to the surrounding site to provide a comprehensive development across the overall allocation," the council's report had said.

"Whilst the proposal will result in the total loss of a non-designated heritage asset, the report indicates that it is not possible to resist the loss and whilst unfortunate, there are no grounds to resist the development on this ground."

But siding with the town's MP Sir Jeremy Wright, Kenilworth Town Council and 25 objections from members of the public, councillors blocked the plans.

"The application was refused contrary to the recommendation in the report on the grounds that the sustainability of the proposed dwellings did not comply with the Net Zero DPD which will be adopted imminently; the precise wording of the reason for refusal is delegated to head of place, arts & economy in consultation with the chairman of planning committee," a report following the meeting said.

Vistry has already been given prior approval to flatten the site.

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Sir Jeremy Wright recently said there was no justification for the project, nor for more homes in the town.

Last May an application to demolish the 74-bed Woodside was thrown out by WDC on biodiversity grounds.

The site was subsequently sold to Vistry who are currently building 620 houses around the hotel.

Town councillors previously said it was "appalling" how little respect was paid to the history of the building in the planning application.

See the council report here.

More to follow.

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