No formal offer has yet been submitted by Homes England to buy the former Kenilworth School site at Leyes Lane, residents have been told.

Concerned locals were given an update on the vacant site at two public meetings on Thursday (January 29) by top councillors at Warwick District Council (WDC) as well as council executives.

The meeting came after a public consultation was run and a planning application submitted by Homes England for the redevelopment of the site.

Prior approval for the demolition of the site has been given.

But updating residents this week, deputy chief executive David Elkington said Homes England cannot actually build on the site until a deal for the land is agreed with the council which is the landowner.

"Warwick District Council does not have a contract with Homes England," he explained. 

"They are an independent government agency which is tasked with identifying spaces where they can potentially develop houses."

He continued: "We are continuing with dialogue with them over the potential development of the Leyes Lane site. 

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"They haven't submitted a formal offer to us yet to purchase the land, even though they have put it into all their materials that that is their intention."

WDC has already agreed any sale of the land would come with a 'development plan' in place which would force the new owner to build houses which meet a certain standard.

If no deal with Homes England can be reached, the council's fallback position is to approach housing developers on the open market to repurpose the former school site.

"[The development plan] will outline the number of houses that are expected to be on the site, that will outline the energy performance and environmental standards that we expect for the homes to meet," Mr Elkington said. 

"And it will outline the number of affordable homes that need to be built as well."

He added: "We are still in conversation with Homes England about their potential to buy the site. 

"Nothing has been firmly decided about the types and number and style of houses that will be built on it. 

Residents have until February 5 to respond to the planning application. Council officers will then consider the plans before a decision is made.

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At Thursday's meetings residents raised a variety of concerns about the development ranging from asbestos in the current buildings, the impact on local roads, the impact of building the new homes and whether Kenilworth actually needs any more houses.

Homes England's application for Leyes Lane includes up to 224 new homes, 40 per cent of which would be designated affordable.

The scheme also includes an 'extra care' facility with 75 bedrooms for the elderly.