The developer behind a major new housing estate in Kenilworth has said provided an update on the planned safe pedestrian walking routes into the centre of town.

Charles Church has already started selling houses at its Kenilworth Gate estate on Leamington Road, where some 550 homes will be built.

The developer is currently waiting to finish the first stages of construction before opening a pathway to Thickthorn Close, and it working with Warwickshire County Council on designing the new junctions to the estate.

"New residents to our Kenilworth Gate development will be able to access town by traveling along the Leamington Road via safe pedestrian crossings installed adjacent to the development," a Charles Church spokesperson said.

"A pedestrian route is proposed to enable residents to walk through Thickthorn Close.

"However, this access is currently fenced off to prevent people from walking onto a live building site.

"Once the building works on the outskirts of Phase 1 are complete, we will open up this footpath for residents.

"The provision of the pedestrian access is dependent on WCC Highways Authority approving our S278 plans on both the lilo and signal control junctions on the Leamington Road both of which are currently with the local highways authority for review.

"We believe that our Kenilworth Gate development provides a desirable location for local people with easy access to not only Kenilworth town centre but also surrounding towns such as Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon."

While full planning permission for the first 98 homes of the estate has been granted, the developer is waiting for detailed plans for the rest of the remaining 452 to be signed off.

Funded by Charles Church, £1.53 million will be spent on a new junction with traffic lights on Leamington Road, followed by a further £1.23 million on a priority junction onto Glasshouse Lane.

Another £307,200 will pay for a left in, left out junction onto Leamington Road, with the remaining £60,000 paying for a temporary access for the construction traffic.

The developer's comments follow a recent discussion of the development at Kenilworth Town Council.

Cllr Andrew Milton said he has continued to push for better pedestrian access to the new Kenilworth Gate estate.

"You have to own a car if you live there," the Lib Dem councillor said at the most recent KTC meeting. 

"I have pushed the developer, and they have come back to say there will be pedestrian crossings but they didn't say when. 

"I suspect it will be when the spine road is complete. 

"There will also be an access through to Thickthorn Close but similarly they can't tell me when that is going to open, it depends on how quickly they finish the houses and sell them because there is an acoustic barrier there. 

"Some of the residents there will effectively be marooned there for some time."

Charles Church's estate will include a range of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes.

The launch of the new show home earlier this year was marked by a visit from Team GB athlete, Neil Adams who is a former Judo Olympian and previously lived in the town.