Plans to build 550 new houses in Kenilworth have been given the green light by Warwick District Council three months after councillors first approved them.

The new estate, which will be built between the A46, Leamington Road and Glasshouse Lane, will also include a new primary school, community centre and 'employment land'.

WDC's planning committee approved the new houses in September on the condition that council officers made sure that the number of affordable houses on site was correct.

Barwood Development Securities Ltd, who submitted the application, will also have to submit a number of surveys before the building can start.

A WDC spokesperson said: "At their meeting in September, the planning committee resolved to grant planning permission for the development subject to a legal agreement to secure a range of infrastructure associated with the development.

"The decision notice, granting planning permission, has recently been issued followed the completion of that agreement."

Barwood will now submit detailed drainage and air quality plans as well as noise impact, bat, badger and protection of woodland surveys.

The application, which is split into two parts, has received detailed approval for the first 98 houses.

Outline approval has then been given for the next 442 houses.

At September's planning meeting councillors raised concerns about the number of affordable houses in the application, with the first 98 houses not meeting the required 40 per cent quota.

Instead Barwood will build more affordable houses in the larger part of the application to meet the quota overall.

Cllr Colin Quinney said it was inappropriate not to have the required 40 per cent of affordable houses spread evenly over both parts of the site.

Speaking in September he said: "It seems to me that this is a crucial point that we should question or challenge.

"I know it is profitable for developers to start off with more marketable than affordable houses and I can see good commercial reasons to do so.

"But I am worried that this is just opening the floodgates to not meet the development brief and I think we should be firm on this."

Permission was initially granted subject to Barwood confirming it was committed to delivering at least the 40 per cent.

Having engaged with the developers, officers were satisfied that the conditions were met and final permission was granted on Tuesday, December 21.