Plan for 200 homes to south of Leamington and Warwick gets the go-ahead

A scheme to build 200 homes close to Leamington and Warwick has been approved, seven months after it was refused by Warwick District Council's planning committee.

Representatives for Leamington building firm AC Lloyd appeared before the committee again on Tuesday night, arguing that they had, since their previous application in September, addressed the concerns that had been raised about the firm’s ‘Harbury Gardens’ scheme for Bishops Tachbrook.

The company has committed to providing financial contributions towards the nearest country park, sports facilities and a new GP surgery, while it has also now included a new primary school for the site.

Planning officers at the council had worked on the revised scheme with AC Lloyd - and they had encouraged councillors to vote in favour of the scheme, stating that the approval of the district’s Local Plan last week ought to give greater weight to housing plans for areas included in that plan.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, AC Lloyd’s director Des Wynne said: “This scheme will be of significant benefit to the town, providing a leafy suburb which I believe you will be proud of.

“We have a shortfall in housing supply. This will provide much-needed housing for local people by a local house-builder.”

But the scheme had been heavily opposed by people in the area, with objections from Bishops Tachbrook parish council, the town councils of Whitnash and Warwick and 164 people. Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Judy Falp (Ind, Whitnash) said: “This application was refused because it will result in urban sprawl. The lie of the land here really will make it stand out. We don’t feel that that’s any good for us.”