The Kenilworth Road business closed for business in February and last week developer Earlplace was given the go-ahead to turn it into a 53-bed home with accommodation on four floors including the basement.

It was the Solihull firm’s second development plan for the site after receiving permission to convert it into 14 apartments in 2005. Under the new scheme the front façade will remain, but the wings will be demolished and replaced.

Critics of the plans included Leamington Town Council and nearby residents who felt it would be an “overdevelopment” of the site and lead to traffic problems and noise.

Speaking at last week’s Warwick District Council planning meeting, objector Bertram Davies of Ambassador Court said 18 car parking spaces would be “inadequate” and create “overspill” onto Kenil-worth Road.

But Tim Malby of Earlplace said there was a “tidal wave of demand” for residential homes of this kind, it was the same size as their previous application and would have the same access onto Woodcote Road. He added that not-for-profit organisation Methodist Homes for the Aged had agreed to run it.

Continuing the debate, Coun Cymone De-Lara-Bond (Lib Dem, Leam Manor) argued that amenities for would-be residents were reduced in the new design leaving only “a patio garden that overlooks bedrooms”.

Concerns about flooding in the area were raised by Coun Roger Copping (Lib Dem, Leam Manor) who said Woodcote Road had “flooded to a foot depth” last June and cellars were two feet underwater.

And Coun George Illingworth (Con, Kenil-worth Abbey) added “I can’t approve an application for people to live in a basement unless someone has assessed it.”

But Coun Ann Blacklock (Lib Dem, Kenilworth Abbey) said there was an “enormous demand” for residential homes and Methodist Homes for the Aged has an “outstanding reputation”.

Councillors voted eight to two in favour of the plan, but with the condition that no-one be housed in the basement until a flood risk assessment had been carried out.