Hundreds of homes axed from Warwick district's Local Plan as new consultation starts

Warwick District Council has taken a big step forward today (Friday) with the start of consultation on the main modifications to the Local Plan proposed by Government inspector Kevin Ward.

The proposed changes will reduce the overall housing supply by 740, meaning the total will now be 17,139 against a requirement of 16,776 to be built in the Warwick district by 2029.

The most notable changes to the plan, which last went out for consultation last year, are the removal of six sites that had been proposed for housing, including land north of Milverton off Kenilworth Road, which was earmarked for 250 houses, and land at Red House Farm in Lillington for which up to 250 houses had been allocated.

Other sites which were under consideration and have now been removed from the plan include land east of Cubbington, for which 95 houses were planned; land south of Spring Lane in Radford Semele for which 60 houses were planned; a site at Brownley Green Lane in Hatton Park for which 55 houses had been allocated; and land at Wasperton Lane in Barford on which 30 houses could have been built. This also means that the majority of the council’s Local Plan, including housing sites south of Leamington, Warwick and Whitnash, and Kenilworth and employment land near Coventry Airport, is likely to be approved.

Cllr Andrew Mobbs, the leader of the district council, said: “We are delighted that the inspector has not suggested changes to the vast majority of the council’s proposals and has indicated that if these modifications are made our Local Plan can be adopted. It is vital to our district that this happens as soon as possible.”

Details of the consultation are online at www.warwickdc.gov.uk/newlocalplan