Proposals to turn empty office space in Leamington town centre have been approved.
The application to convert the site on Warwick street went before Warwick District Council’s planning committee despite objections that the town centre is already overrun with student accommodation.
One local resident Lynda Power said: “This part of Leamington is starting to look a lot like South Leamington. Too many students do have a damaging effect on a community.”
Not all councillors were on board with the scheme either; Cllr Michael Kinson said:
“I’ve raised concerns about these shared houses in the past. Students are different. Different lifestyles, different sorts of people altogether.
“I did sniff out a battery hen type situation, trying to cram as many sleeping spaces in as possible.”
However, applicant Brian Jeavons who owns the office space said that student accommodation was the best option for everyone.
He said: “It has been on the market for two years as offices and we haven’t had one viewing. Leaving it vacant is beneficial to no-one and makes no contribution to the town whatsoever.”
