Plans to transform the site of the former St Joseph’s Nursing Home on the outskirts of Lochwinnoch into retirement flats have been approved by Renfrewshire Council.

The development will involve the construction of 25 newbuild apartments and refurbishment of a C-listed chapel into a further five homes at the land off Corsefield Road.

Applicant Sitepride was granted the relevant permissions for the project, subject to conditions, at Tuesday’s planning and climate change policy board.

Councillor Andy Doig, an independent representative for the village and member of the board, was impressed the flats would be “built sympathetically” in terms of the character and appearance of the chapel.

He added: “It’s a shame, it’s been a tragic site in the sense that in its heyday it must have been a beautiful site.

“It’s been derelict for so long and a positive use like housing I think would be great.”

Convery Prenty Shields Architects submitted the application for planning permission, as well as listed building consent in relation to the chapel, towards the end of last year.

A design and access statement said at the time: “The scheme comprises 25 new build retirement flats with a concierge and communal lounge facility in a three-storey block on the site of former buildings with the refurbishment of a 1940 chapel to be converted into a further five retirement flats. The properties will be marketed to the over-55s.”

The development site is brownfield land within the southern boundary of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, the statement added.

It was formerly occupied by St Joseph’s Nursing Home which closed in 2005.

The statement continued: “The complex of buildings comprised an early 19th century Tudor style mansion formerly Garthland House and was sold in 1935 to the Mill Hill Foreign Missionary Society at which time it became the St Joseph’s College for Missionaries.

“The house was extended to the north in 1936 with the addition of the three-storey dormitory block which is the subject of a listed building consent to demolish and further extended to the south in 1943 with the addition of the chapel, to be refurbished within these proposals.”

Since 2005, the site has been exposed to “extensive vandalism, theft and arson” because of its relatively remote location, rendering it “unsafe” and requiring selective demolition.

At present, only the 1936 dormitory block and chapel remain standing.