Nearly 100 extra houses could be built on land in Kenilworth earmarked for education after councillors gave plans the green light at their meeting this week.

Members of Warwick District Council's planning committee were told that the site, between Glasshouse Lane and Crewe Lane, was not now needed for one of the town's new schools.

Principal planning officer Dan Charles explained: "The site was allocated for housing should it be surplus to requirements for education. At the time it was proposed to have the secondary school and primary school on the same site."

He added that while the secondary school would be built on land to the south of this development, the primary school would now be built elsewhere.

Mr Charles said: "The only thing we are waiting for now is for the land sale to complete and then the school will be in control of the land. We are satisfied as officers that the land is surplus however, technically we require that land sale to complete before we can issue the planning permission."

Members of the planning committee supported the outline plans for up to 99 houses, noting that 40 per cent of them would be affordable and that five of the properties would be custom or self-built.

Cllr Peter Jones of Kenilworth Town Council expressed concerns about access to the development.

He said "Kenilworth Council's objection started with the single road in and out from Glasshouse Lane. In our view this is unsafe as any blockage will prevent emergency vehicles gaining access to the estate.

"There will also be a queue of vehicles waiting to join Glasshouse Lane in the morning."

The councillors also heard from James Griffin, the agent for developers Gleesons Strategic Land, who said there had been a series of meetings with various councils and local residents.

Cllr Terry Morris (Con, Warwick Saltisford) said: "In terms of the outline application I think it is a well thought out scheme. It certainly looks as if the properties would fit well within the space available.

"I understand the concerns about access and I used to be a resident just off Glasshouse Lane myself but, as is always the case, if highways have no objection to that access point then we have to assume it is safe to have it there."

Outline planning permission was unanimously approved.