Local people and parish councils must have their say on what development is needed to the north of Kenilworth.

That was the message from a local councillor last night as Warwick District Council's cabinet unanimously supported a £206,000 masterplan project.

WDC has commissioned a study into the area between Kenilworth and Coventry to see how major developments there can be built in sync.

The impact of HS2, new housing, expansion at the University of Warwick and the new gigafactory will all be included.

But Cllr Richard Hales said the report would only be a success if local organisations were involved.

"It is key that we engage, and that the town and parish councils have ample opportunity to voice their opinions," he said at yesterday's cabinet meeting.

"It is really important that we build this from the ground upwards.

"They are the elected members that serve those areas so it is vitally important that we engage very early with the town and parish councils that are effected."

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The report will be jointly funded by WDC, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council and the University of Warwick.

The red line shows the boundary of the area to be investigated (Image by google.maps and WDC)

And whilst it will be separate to the new South Warwickshire Local Plan, the two will run in tandem.

"Masterplanning isn't easy but it is essential when you have got all of this sort of stuff going on," added Cllr Alan Boad.

"The issue you have got is there are all these people with plans wanting to do things and you haven't got your masterplan so you haven't got all the time in the world to pull it together.

"I think we need to put pressure on to try and bring it to fruition as soon as we can before people start putting spades in the ground because then it is too late."

(Header image by Thomas Nugent via geograph.org.uk)