Plans to move Kenilworth Wardens Sports Club across town and turn their current ground into a new housing estate have been shelved.

Last September Warwick District Council's (WDC) cabinet officially endorsed a scheme which would have seen the community club move to a new facility at Castle Farm, with the existing Glasshouse Lane site repurposed for 110 new houses.

But a joint statement from the local authority and Kenilworth Wardens has confirmed the "difficult decision" has been made to end the project.

The scheme is said to "no longer be viable" based on "current market conditions" which the statement described as "volatile" and different to when the project was first being considered.

Nub News understands Kenilworth Wardens were just days away from finishing their planning documents for the new ground ahead of putting them to the public for consultation, when the decision to end the scheme was made.

The club said its focus going forward will be on improving its existing Glasshouse Lane facilities.

Anthony Pidgeon, club chairman of Kenilworth Wardens stated: "Following a meeting with the council, our board has reached the decision to withdraw from this project due to insurmountable challenges within the housing development element of the scheme which were beyond our control.

"Our focus will now be looking at ways of improving our existing facilities for the benefit of our members and the local community."

advertisement

Plans signed off last September would have sen WDC invest £3 million to help the move with the council's own housing company - Milverton Homes - due to develop the current ground into 110 houses through its joint venture with Vistry Linden Limited.

Warnings were issued by councillors at the time over the complexity of the scheme.

Glasshouse Lane is allocated for housing in the existing local plan and WDC had already forward funded up to £1,012,000 for the project.

A council report last year said the money would only be recouped if the land was sold for the Wardens' move.

Cllr Chris King, portfolio holder for planning stated: "The council wish to put on record our sincere thanks for the work, effort, energy and commitment by the Kenilworth Wardens project team over the last few years.

"We are disappointed that we've not been able to find a way forward to resolve viability challenges with the housing development element of the scheme, which was a critical part of the project."