Residents have failed to stop "urbanisation" of their village in what they believe to be the only four-storey housing development in Atherstone and district.

Town planners approved a 'high-rise' scheme for 27 new homes for Mancetter – despite objections over the "out-of-keeping" proposals for flats that "are not needed".

Some 54 protesters raised "serious concerns" over the parking arrangements which will only accommodate spaces for 20 vehicles.

And the conversion and extension of the former Wathen Grange School also "risks" the safety of small children, the elderly and emergency services vehicle users, Mancetter Parish Council chairman Trevor Hopkins maintains.

He called on North Warwickshire Borough Council's Planning and Development Board to reject the proposals by Silverleaf Capital Ltd which include demolition of the existing single-storey outbuildings on the site. Mancetter Community Group also registered its objections.

Mr Hopkins said: "Urbanisation should not come to a rural community.

"There is no other example of a four-storey development in Mancetter and none in Atherstone I can think of."

The row over the Church Walk development has been simmering for around a year now with an application to serve an Article Four Direction preventing the demolition of the former Mancetter C of E First School – which closed in 1994 – referred to the January meeting of the planning board.

County planners looked at the issue of the proposed development being "too high" but were reassured with a new ground floor lay-out while the Warwickshire authority's highways department expressed concerns over an increase in traffic problems and a potentially "dangerous junction".

But monitoring and an assessment report saw County Highways drop their objections.

Planning consultant Matthew Williams, representing Silverleaf Capital, said the proposals were an "exciting, high-quality scheme with real character".

He added: "The design has a high degree of quality that can be used as an example for the rest of the borough."

Planning and Development Board chairman Mark Simpson concluded: "The applicant has positively reacted to requests by this local authority.

"I think the applicant has behaved impeccably. There are obvious concerns over the nature of all planning applications."