Plans to turn a town centre building of “historic significance” into serviced ‘hotel’ apartments were given the green light despite concerns about parking on and around the site.

Councillors were concerned about parking at The Clock House building in Frogmoor, High Wycombe, which could have 37 flats for short to medium-term lets if developers decide to go with this option.

The site currently has 14 parking spaces, which are shared with the dental practice, which cllrs do not think will be enough.

Another application to convert it into student housing were also approved at the planning meeting last week.

Cllr David Johncock said he was not “convinced” the proposal took “adequate parking” into account.

He said: “I think the clientele would be different in the two applications and…someone looking for a serviced apartment would have a vehicle of some description, maybe a van, and so parking becomes an issue here.

“So although I don’t have a problem with the principle, I do worry about the parking.”

Cllr Tony Lee echoed this, saying he proposed refusal under these grounds.

Chairman of the planning committee, cllr Paul Turner, said if the committee was to refuse the application on the basis of parking, it would have to “demonstrate what the harm would be” and that it was the officer’s opinion there would not be a reason for refusal that would “stand up to appeal”.

The new county-wide parking guidance says hotels should provide one parking space per room.

But development management officer Gemma Davies argued that the site, at 0.4 spaces per room, would still provide more than other hotels in the area including Premier Inn, which she said provided 0.2 spaces per room, and Travelodge, which does not provide any.

Councillors also unanimously voted to turn the building into student accommodation, with 32 rooms and associated shared space, with cllr Lee saying he could see why they could be “utilised as a HMO” (house in multiple occupation).

He said: “Having walked around the building, I must admit this was in much better condition than I was expecting.

“We looked thoroughly throughout and thought that the size of the rooms [were] much bigger than normal student accommodation.”

However he was “really concerned” at the seemingly lack of emergency exits, adding that the building was in the “perfect spot” for students.