Burton Green Parish Council has condemned plans to build 140 homes on local green belt land.

The council has "strongly" criticised Warwick District Council (WDC) planners who have recommended the new estate be built on land south of Westwood Heath Road.

WDC's planning committee will tonight (November 4) vote on the application from IM Land 1 Limited.

But the parish council says the land the houses are proposed for was only removed from the green belt to meet possible overspill housing from Coventry and should not be developed.

"That justification has now disappeared," the council said.

"Coventry City Council's new local plan, currently before the examiner, confirms it can meet its housing needs within its own boundary and proposes returning adjacent safeguarded land to green belt."

Plans show 40 per cent of the new homes would be designated as affordable.

The application neighbours a major housing estate already under construction.

Earlier this year, Burton Green Parish Council conducted a residents' survey and submitted a detailed response to the South Warwickshire Local Plan consultation, supported by several hundred residents, calling for the safeguarded land to be returned to green belt.

The council said WDC has "ignored these local views" and failed to respond to the community's petition.

Chair Cllr Gerry McColl said: "Local voices have been completely disregarded.

"Pushing forward development on safeguarded land outside the proper local plan process is potentially unlawful and undermines trust in local democracy.

"This plan would destroy some of the best and most versatile farmland in the district, with no clear local need and no supporting infrastructure.

"Schools and healthcare are already at full capacity — and there is little transport serving this area."

"There's no shortage of land already approved for homes nearby — only a shortage of delivery," the chair added.

Recommending the application be approved, a WDC report said: "The new housing would be provided in a sustainable location and the proposed parameters of the scheme would enable the development to make an effective use of the land whilst delivering a well-designed residential environment."

It added: "The proposed development would deliver up to 140 new homes, 40 per cent of which would be affordable. 

"The development would therefore provide a meaningful boost to the supply of market and affordable housing within the district at a time when the council does not have the requisite supply of housing land."