Kenilworth’s only Grade II* listed building’ will be transformed into a housing development after fears over space and status were pushed aside.
Plans to turn the currently empty Abbotsford School into a house and build five new houses in the grounds have been contested for months after objections from residents and councillors.
But plans for the currently empty school have now been given the green light and the transformation of the historic building can go ahead.
Developers will demolish part of the existing building in Bridge Street to allow for the current building to become a house.
Access into the new flats will be made through the current gates off New Street, around the corner from the front of the building which looks over the Bridge Street crossroads.
Outbuildings will also be converted into living space and a further five houses will also be built in the grounds after the plans were approved by planners at Warwick District Council this month.
But planners have insisted that no work can go ahead until listed building works have been completed, as well as that the existing boundary wall be retained at full height
The approval came after months of the application being resubmitted refused and appealed by developers.
Members of Kenilworth Town Council have raised repeated concern, not only about the suitability of the site for such increased traffic, but of the building’s merit as a listed landmark.
Cllr George Illingworth, has previously spoken on behalf of town council planners to make sure the site’s importance was not taken lightly.
“We have very few buildings of this importance in Kenilworth and we must not forget that,” he said.
“This building is redundant as a school and we would like to see it put back to use.
“But although we do not want this to be another Wantage situation where we are in limbo as to the future.”
The concern was raised after members agreed they wanted to see the old school site developed – but not in a way which would detract from it’s historic importance or alter the site’s character.
In a similar planning saga, The Wantage has stood empty for several years as bids by developers to split the building up into flats have been repeatedly rejected.
Owners of the Grade II listed building have put the site up for sale with a price tag of £1,875,000 in the hope of meeting councillors’ demands to attract a family and keep the build intact.
But if the historic Castle Hill home cannot attract a sale, it is expected that a fresh bid will be submitted to convert the building into flats.