Locals are being asked for their views on plans to turn Warwick District Council's (WDC) headquarters into 150 homes.

A public consultation has been launched by the council, which has agreed to sell its Riverside House base to Homes England.

The local authority is working to leave its old base and move its services elsewhere, included to rented offices in Warwick. It is a move which the council says could save taxpayers up to £250,000 per year.

And now residents have until February 9 to give feedback on the plans to redevelop the site, before a planning application is submitted this spring.

"Riverside House currently serves as the headquarters for Warwick District Council who are relocating to the town centre," the consultation website said.

"Homes England are purchasing Riverside House to redevelop for new housing.

"Alongside the redevelopment of Riverside House, the council also has an ongoing strategy to improve accessibility to greenspace and improve sports facilities.

"To help achieve this, the council are seeking to relocate Edmonscote Athletics track with a new facility.

"This presents an opportunity for the creation of improved park facilities across the existing athletics track and Elizabeth Park.

"Homes England want you to help shape proposals for new homes at Riverside House and the plans for improved facilities at Elizabeth Park."

The current proposals would see 150 new net carbon zero homes built, 40 per cent of which will be affordable.

An initial consultation was run in November 2023.

MP for Warwick and Leamington Matt Western has previously called for all the new homes to be designated affordable housing, and for the project to be paused.

"This is a matter of great concern for me," he said.

"Our job as elected representatives is to deliver what our communities need.

"It is clear from the statistics and speaking to people in our towns and villages that truly affordable housing is needed to address the housing emergency we face locally.  

"These plans will not deliver that.

"The council have an opportunity to pause these plans that were created under the former administration and develop something that will truly serve our community.  

"I hope Cllr Ian Davison [WDC leader] will fully consider my further questions and take the chance to assess these plans and their suitability for our district – and, most importantly, give the public a real say." 

However, speaking at a WDC meeting last year, local councillors labelled the MP's comments as "ill informed" and supported Cllr Davison's response that the land should be sold.

Conservative group leader Cllr Andrew Day said: "I do commend the leader's response in the press to our MP's ill-informed comments around the proposals coming for there, which have had cross-party support.

"It will deliver significant numbers of affordable housing in a key part of our community.

"And do a lot when we have already reduced the housing list by a significant proportion in the last council.

"This will contribute further, affordable housing and social housing in our community."

Plans to relocate council services from the Leamington offices were signed off by the previous Conservative-led council, before the new Green-Labour leadership took over following the May elections. 

The Green-Labour coalition forced through plans to repurpose the Royal Pump Rooms' shop to create a new customer service hub last year, as part of the relocation from Riverside House.

WDC is set to vacate Riverside House and move to offices in Warwick, where a lease will be taken with Warwickshire County Council for use of part of the Saltisford 1 building.

Locals can share their feedback here.