There may be less money for major infrastructure projects across Kenilworth than expected after councillors revealed that the town council was likely to receive £2 million less funding than it had expected.

Last year Kenilworth Town Council launched a survey to see where residents thought its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding should be spent to help support the community.

CIL is cash the council raises from developers building in the town, with the money set to be spent over the next five to ten years.

When the survey was launched the council predicted there would be around £3 million available for projects across Kenilworth.

But forecasts revealed at last week's finance and general services committee meeting revealed the council now estimates it will receive only £1.1 million.

Cllr Rob Barry explained: "As we are getting more calls on CIL money I felt that as chair of the working group we really needed to get some sort of estimates and projections as to what receipts we are expecting to be receiving."

He added: "I feel that some people will be surprised that this isn't saying two or three million. 

"I think the crux of it is there is a very low CIL rate per metres squared for the land east of Kenilworth that WDC [Warwick District Council] have set with the developers. 

"I think the reason is because the developers are having to spend a lot on infrastructure within the sites, with the spine road and land for primary schools."

The council has already given around £135,000 to the Talisman Theatre, allocated £27,500 to the Clarke's Avenue Bridge project and spent £10,000 on a survey for traffic improvements on Warwick Road.

"The first time members of the town council were given any indication of the amount of CIL payable over the lifetime of the applications, it was £5 million," Cllr John Cooke. 

"So I was quite surprised when I saw this report. 

"But, of course CIL isn't payable until such time as they start building, and by the time they come to build these sites the amount may be higher. 

"But when you take into account inflation they might not really be higher anyway. 

"Having expected great fortunes from it, I think most people will be slightly disappointed."

The survey released last year found that investment in facilities for young people, the environment, leisure and cycling were the priority for Kenilworth residents.

Cllr Richard Dickson also questioned whether Warwick District Council's decision to build houses in Kenilworth using its own housing developer had impacted the amount of money given to the town council.

"I wonder whether the higher figure of the £3 million may have been calculated on the assumption that the school sites at Leyes Lane and Rouncil Lane may not have been going to Milverton Homes," he said. 

"But would have been going to a commercial developer where CIL would have been payable."