Major plans for 550 new homes on the edge of Kenilworth were revealed last month.

Catesby Estates has launched a public consultation as it gets ready to submit a planning application for the development around Rouncil Lane and Warwick Road.

Local residents have until September 20 to have their say on the plans before they are sent to Warwick District Council to consider.

And as feedback starts coming through, Nub News has taken an in depth look at the proposals as they stand.

Where are the sites?

The masterplan for the proposed development shows the houses would be built across two parcels of land.

The larger is to the west of Rouncil Lane and includes 61 acres of agricultural land, split across four plots.

Catesby is eyeing 350 houses here.

The Rouncil Lane plot does not include any of the land around the former Kenilworth School sixth form site.

The second parcel is to the west of Warwick Road, just beyond the entrance to the Pavillions estate which has been built on the opposite side.

Here, 200 homes are proposed across 40 acres.

This parcel of land lies next to allotments and Cattle Brook.

What is included in the plans?

With the 550 homes divided across the two parcels of land, half are planned to be affordable homes.

Catesby says 50 per cent on each site will be designated affordable.

Designs for the estates also include new play areas, new green space, cycling routes and footpaths.

Crucially, no new schools, shops, healthcare facilities or pubs have been included in the proposals.

The range of proposed homes includes one and two beds "ideal for first-time buyers and young professionals" as well as family homes of three to four bedrooms.

Affordable homes will include a combination of discounted rent, discounted sale (for first time buyers) and shared ownership housing, "provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market".

A new roundabout would be created off Rouncil Lane to access that part of the development.

The footpath would also be extended along the road to meet the entrance.

Either a 'T' junction or a roundabout would be built on Warwick Road.

Plans are currently only at an outline stage, so do not include lots of details of the types or designs of homes planned.

What have the developers said?

Catesby Estates is a land promoter, and it is probable the land would be sold to one or multiple housing developers if outline planning permission is granted for the new homes.

The company's job is to promote the land and secure outline planning permission for the new homes before selling it on to a housing developer to actually build the estate.

On the consultation website, Catesby wrote: "We aim to deliver a diverse range of new homes, including affordable housing, all designed to meet high sustainability standards.

"The developments will be set within attractive green spaces and well connected to existing local facilities and services.

"The landscaped spaces that surround the proposed new homes provide a variety of open spaces, including formal and informal green space, for recreation and for nature.

"Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained where possible, and enhanced through new planting to strengthen the existing natural features of the sites.

"Areas have also been incorporated through the site to provide space for play and recreation as part of encouraging healthy and active lifestyle."

What is the timeline?

Now live, the consultation runs until September 20.

After this, Catesby will consider the public feedback before submitting its first planning application, asking for outline permission for the development.

It said this is planned for the autumn.

Warwick District Council will then consider the application, with it likely to go to a planning committee meeting where councillors will have the final say. Catesby hopes this will come in spring 2027, but there is a good chance it will be later than this date.

A 'reserved matters' application would then need to be submitted. This deals with the smaller details of the housing designs before construction begins.

However, as these designs will come from the individual housebuilder, the land will most likely need to be sold before the applications are submitted.

Catesby says it hopes to have a buyer for the land in the summer or autumn of 2027.

If that happens, reserved matters applications could then be submitted before the end of 2027.

At each application stage, local residents, Kenilworth Town Council and other local organisations are all given the opportunity to comment on the application.

Given the number of houses involved, decisions may take a while.

How does this fit in with the new local plan?

Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils are currently working on the final stages of the South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP).

A final public consultation is currently underway, with the current draft of the plan including provision for up to 750 new houses to the south of Kenilworth.

This land is referred to as SG04 in the plan.

Much of Catesby's scheme overlaps with this land - but not all of it.

A separate planning application from Richborough Estates has already been submitted to the district council.

It is for 180 homes on land next to the former sixth form site, in the middle of the two parcels being promoted by Catesby.

The future of the former school site is yet to be fully decided.

The two councils are due to submit the final draft of SWLP to the secretary of state at the end of this year for approval.

Click here to see the consultation website.