Rio's could be demolished to build shared flats

Rios night club could be demolished and turned into flats in the latest housing plan for Leamington town centre.
Rio's - Picture from Rio's Twitter feedRio's - Picture from Rio's Twitter feed
Rio's - Picture from Rio's Twitter feed

The iconic bar and night club in Bedford Street is the subject of a planning application which has not yet drawn a single objection.

If approval is given the building would be completely demolished and a four storey block of student-style flats built in its place.

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Plans include for two apartments per floor, each with six bedrooms and en suites and a communal area for kitchen and dining.

Rio's in Bedford Street. Picture from Google Street viewRio's in Bedford Street. Picture from Google Street view
Rio's in Bedford Street. Picture from Google Street view

The flats will not come with any on site parking, but will have a cycle park around the back in what developers say will suit nearby transport links. The club, which pulls in around 800 people every Friday and Saturday night is still open from 11pm to 4am each weekend and the top floor of the building is already used for flats.

It is not known when the conversion would take place, and could all depend on what Warwick District Council planners decide for the conversion

The whole building will need to be completely demolished before conversion work starts if plans get the green light from planners later this summer.

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A statement from BPN Architects on behalf of the developers, said: “The existing buildings are not suitable to be re-used or adapted to a new use due to varying floor levels and structural constraints.

Rio's in Bedford Street. Picture from Google Street viewRio's in Bedford Street. Picture from Google Street view
Rio's in Bedford Street. Picture from Google Street view

“Being located within the centre of the town, residents who live within this new building would be well situated with local amenities.

“The street itself has a varied mix of cafes, bars, pubs, gyms, opticians.”

The new build would mix Regency style buildings on the Parade with the more industrial history of the residential area.

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Bedford Street is within the conservation area and one of the town’s former mews - once filthy and disease ridden access areas which were home to workers off the more regal Parade.

It was developed for workers around 1834 when builders began infilling gaps left between earlier developments.