The refugees will be housed in the huge mansion in Warwickshire

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The Diocese of Coventry put the building for sale in October 2013 after its closure – marketing it as a potential hotel or private school.

The 18th-century listed building near Leamington Spa has a staggering 27 bedrooms, a chapel, conference suite and coach house.

Offa House in rural Warwickshire has been earmarked a possible reception centre for people fleeing war-torn Syria.

But after taking the property off the market, officials are now seeking planning permission for the new use.

Earlier this week they submitted a request to use the building as "short-term residential accommodation for refugees", according to the Telegraph.

It comes a month after the Archbishop of Canterbury offered a four-bedroom cottage in Lambeth Palace, his official London residence, to house refugees.