A bid to transform a Grade II listed villa into a retirement home has been recommended for approval despite the guardians of Cheltenham’s architectural past and future objecting to the plans.

Aspen Retirement has asked Cheltenham Borough Council for permission to convert Cotswold Court in Lansdown Court from offices to flats for the elderly.

They also want to demolish another office building and sports hall at the rear of the site with a total of 52 apartments planned.

And while the borough council’s planning officers believe the scheme should go ahead, Cheltenham Civic Society has blasted the plans as “monotonous” and “too institutional to provide a welcoming environment to old people”.

In its submission to the borough council’s planning team, the society states: “We do not like the very large monotonous expanse presented by the façade of the proposed new rear block.

“We think this overwhelms and significantly detracts from the impression created by the listed building, and is not of a good enough quality sit alongside it.

“In our view it might be preferable to have several pavilion-style buildings behind the listed building to avoid the daunting prospect of the large unwelcoming façade.

“Such a design is too institutional to provide a welcoming environment to old people.”

Changes have been made to the original design since the application was first submitted in September 2013 but the society is still not happy.

John Henry from the group said: “We realise we were probably being idealistic with our original comment.

“But we still feel that they haven’t softened the rear building sufficiently.”

The original villa was built between 1840 and 1860 and it was first used as a home.

Now used as offices, only one floor of the building is currently occupied while the offices and sports hall at the rear of the villa have been vacant since 2009.

Ordinarily the borough council is against losing office space in the town but a report submitted by the applicant shows the premises have been actively marketed since 2006 with “little interest forthcoming”.

As a result the council’s planning team is satisfied that trying to keep the villa as offices has been “fully explored”.

Sport England has also objected to the plans on the basis they don’t want to see the sports hall demolished even though it has not been used since the end of 2009.

Cheltenham Borough Council has received 13 letters objecting to the plan and one letter of support.

Planning officers have recommended the plans be given the green light.

The authority’s planning committee will meet on Thursday April 24 from 6pm to debate the pros and cons of the scheme.