Three sites around Kenilworth have been put into a final shortlist of possible new housing sites as the local councils look to plan where 30,000 new homes will be built in South Warwickshire.

Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon District Councils are set to move to the next stage of the new South Warwickshire Local Plan (SWLP) which will oversee the next 25 years of development in the area.

After locals put forward some 736 potential new housing sites, the local authorities have now whittled these down to 36 potential spots - 12 of which could see new settlements created.

Immediately around Kenilworth, land around the University of Warwick, Stoneleigh, Coventry Airport and Rouncil Lane have all been included in the shortlist.

Potential new housing sites around South Warwickshire (image via SWLP)

Councillors from the two councils will meet on Thursday 12 December to consider the next steps of the SWLP, which is likely to see local residents and businesses given their say on these sites and other parts of the plan.

"Not all of these locations will ultimately be required to meet the area's growth needs and the councils will be undertaking further analysis to conclude which locations and specific sites should form part of South Warwickshire's growth strategy," the SWLP website says.

The next stage of the plan will also see a further call for sites for more gypsy and traveller sites, as well as areas for renewable energy generation.

Already delayed, SWLP will govern local house building until 2050. It was due to be brought in for 2025, but has been pushed back to 2027.

Statistics from the South Warwickshire Local Plan (image via SWLP)

Nearly 2,200 homes will be built through it every year, mostly on green belt land as there is "insufficient urban brownfield land to accommodate South Warwickshire's housing and employment land needs" - according to a council report.

As well as the sites around Kenilworth, land either side of the A46 to the west of Warwick has been included as well as multiple locations around Leamington Spa.

In Stratford-upon-Avon, plots to the north west of the town - again around the A46 - as well as land around Shottery have been shortlisted.

See the full council report here.