August update on major housing developments around Kenilworth

By James Smith 15th Aug 2023

Miller Homes' Southcrest Rise development went on sale online in autumn last year (image by James Smith)
Miller Homes' Southcrest Rise development went on sale online in autumn last year (image by James Smith)

A report presented at the most recent Kenilworth Town Council meeting has given an update on all the major housing projects across the town.

With new houses on the various developments along Glasshouse Lane already up for sale, 1,500 houses are currently either under construction or awaiting planning approval.

More applications for new estates are also expected to be submitted in the coming months.

Southcrest Rise

Miller Homes is underway building 99 homes along Glasshouse Lane, which have already gone on sale.

On a site visit in July, 36 dwellings were under construction and five are now complete.

The first residents are expected to move in during August.

Roadworks along Glasshouse Lane for the site are being completed alongside works to create a new 20mph speed zone outside the new Kenilworth School.

The whole development is not expected to be complete until 2025.

The 'Oxford' show home at Southcrest Rise (image by James Smith)

Stoneleigh View

Further along Glasshouse Lane, Vistry, Bovis and Linden Homes are on site building the initial phases of their planning permission for 620 dwellings.

This includes 248 affordable homes that will be taken on by Warwick District Council.

It is anticipated that by the end of August the first seven affordable housing units will be handed over to WDC

Developers are currently in discussion with the district council over the access to the site, hoping to build the new junction off Crewe Lane, before the one with Glasshouse Lane.

The council is still considering the application but a decision has been described as "imminent".

The first market homes are now available with two of the show homes now open.

The 620 homes will wrap around the new Kenilworth School and the Woodside Hotel (image via planning application)

Land at Thickthorn

Charles Church is building the first 98 homes at its Kenilworth Gate site - the first phase of the major development.

Works on the access of Leamington Road are complete, and 40 homes are expected to be completed this year.

The show home was set to open in late spring, but it has only just opened. The first plots are now up for sale with housing ranging from £370,000 to £885,000.

An outline planning application for the remaining 452 homes, retail and employment land and community centre remains under consideration with the district council.

WDC is continuing to look at opportunities for attracting employment uses to the land allocated for employment use

Charles Church will eventually build 550 homes on the land at Thickthorn between Leamington Road and Glasshouse Lane

Kenilworth Rugby Club

An outline planning application to build 220 homes on the current Kenilworth Rugby Club ground has been submitted to WDC by Bloor Homes.

"The application is for the demolition of all existing structures and the erection of up to 220 dwellings (170 dwellings on the Cowpatch site, and 50 dwellings on KRFC Ground site), with associated access, sustainable urban drainage systems, open space, landscaping, drainage and ancillary infrastructure and ground remodelling," the report said.

Kenilworth Town Council has objected to the application, raising concerns about access to the site - as well as other issues.

Meanwhile at the club's new site off Warwick Road - which already has planning permission - work is already underway relocating newts to the three new ponds. This needs to be completed before any work building the new ground can begin.

Kenilworth Wardens

WDC continues to work with Kenilworth Wardens to prepare a planning application to relocate to the land next to Castle Farm.

Warwick District Council has already provided £712,000 to help the club relocate from Glasshouse Lane to Castle Farm, with its current ground allocated for houses in the local plan.

WDC's cabinet signed off on a further £300,000 in forward funding last September with a report saying the project would "probably not go ahead" unless the council increased its funding.

The most recent update simply says: "WDC continues to work with the Wardens Cricket Club to enable them to prepare a deliverable planning application to relocate to the land adjacent to Castle Farm.

"Securing permission for this land will enable the site at Glasshouse Lane to be released for redevelopment."

The development sites to the east side of Kenilworth (image via Warwick District Council)

The Pavilions

Bovis Homes are still building homes on The Pavilions site off Warwick Road.

The Pavilions comprises of 125 dwellings in total - after plans to build four more homes were withdrawn.

The majority of the dwellings are complete with remaining plots 92 - 125 under construction; these are due to be completed by September 2023.

Kenilworth School

The new school on Glasshouse Lane is still on track to open in September 2023 with the keys handed over to Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust.

Designs for the new crossing on Dencer Drive have been signed off by Warwickshire County Council.

Works along Glasshouse Lane continue but will not be ready until the autumn.

A temporary crossing will be in place from September on Dencer Drive until the permanent one is operational.

Access to community sports facilities will transfer from Meadows Community Sports Centre to the new school when it closes at Leyes Lane on August 31.

The new Kenilworth School is still on track to open in September (image by James Smith)

Woodside Hotel

Prior approval to demolish the former manor house was granted earlier this year.

"Prior Approval for the demolition of all existing buildings on site was approved on 27 April due to the limitations of the regulations associated with this type of application," the council report said.

"The building despite being locally listed is not afforded the same level of protection as nationally designated listed building and the process of demolition proposed was in accordance with the regulations."

A separate planning application to build 55 homes on the site is currently being considered.

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