Pictured above: (l/r): Simon Davis with brother Paul Davis, who head up Midland Assured.

A stretch of prime retail space in Warwickshire is set to get a new lease of life after resembling a ghost town in recent years.

Property development firm Midland Assured is in the final stages of the first phase of a project which will help to rejuvenate Leamington's thriving independent quarter.

The developers are putting the finishing touches to accommodation for 16 University of Warwick students on the top two floors at 131-137 in Regent Street, Leamington, a building which has remained largely unoccupied for the past six years.

Work on the apartments is expected to be completed before the end of September - just in time for the beginning of the new term.

Improvements are also being made to the ground floor which is in the process of going through planning to convert it into four individual boutique-style retail units.

Plans for the ground floor could change after the developers were approached recently by a local firm about the possibility of creating a gastro-style pub for which a liquor license has already been secured.

The second phase of the development will also include a further 40 high quality student rooms to the rear of the three-storey development being built, subject to planning permission.

Paul Davis, who heads up Midland Assured with his brother, Simon, said: "This is a building in the heart of Leamington's thriving independent retail district which has, unfortunately, remained unoccupied for many years.

"We are delighted to be entering the final stages of giving this building the fresh beginning it deserves.

"It is disappointing to see empty units on high streets, particularly in busy areas such as this, and we are very happy that we have been able to redevelop this property in such a way that it will become an asset to the town, rather than the eyesore that it was."