The former Kenilworth School sites have cost the district council £7 million while they have sat empty, a councillor has said.

Amid questions on the Leyes Lane and Rouncil Lane sites at this week's Warwick District Council (WDC) meeting, Cllr Richard Hales urged the leadership to prioritise bringing forward the much-delayed housing plans for the two plots which have been empty since the school moved in September 2023.

"In the two years since the school has moved, this has cost this administration £7 million, that is £120 per household across the district, whether they live in Bishop's Itchington, Lapworth, Warwick town centre, Radford," he said. 

"Is it something we can bring forward as a priority?"

He added: "£120 per household so far. When we are talking about value for money for taxpayers is something that obviously cannot be right.

In response, new portfolio holder for housing, Cllr Jessica Melrose said the by-election in the Kenilworth Park Hill ward had delayed a paper on the school sites coming forward and it is now expected in October.

A business case is expected in early 2026 and Cllr Melrose said a 'frequently asked questions' page could be created on the WDC website to help with communication to residents.

"[My] two priorities - school sites and the regulator - they are my top two," she said. 

"For me it is to get it on the critical path and deliver. 

"We are committed to getting this delivered."

And with a video last year circulating on social media of the Rouncil Lane site being broken into, Cllr Hales asked if knocking the buildings down could be brought forward even if a housing scheme is not ready to be approved.

 "The Kenilworth School sites have been an issue now for two years since the school moved out," he said. 

"One of the challenges has been the level of anti-social behaviour around Rouncil Lane and Leyes Lane. 

"One of the questions I have is about demolishing the two buildings to avoid the issues going on around there. 

"Is that something that could be brought forward at speed?"

In response, Cllr Melrose explained: "If we were to demolish the building we would need planning permission. 

"I can completely understand the logic of why people want to knock that building down."

At the same meeting, Cllr Richard Dickson pointed to the early delays in the project coming as a result of delays to other schemes, with the scouts and guides and air cadets still using the school sites while they waited for the council to sort their new locations.

With the council doubling down on further major projects this week, he questioned whether further delays would be coming.

"These are two major projects that the council has had on the anvil for many many years predating this administration," he said. 

"One of the things that has always struck me since I became a member of this council, is that I think this council suffers from project overload. 

"Even this week this council's cabinet has approved four more major projects."