Plans for 180 new houses in Kenilworth have been met with objections from town councillors who say the site is not suitable for a new estate and local infrastructure is already strained.

Richborough Estates has applied for planning permission for the major new development on land around Rouncil Lane.

Plans submitted show a new junction would be created on the busy road, with the estate planned to border the former sixth form site.

However, at last week's Kenilworth Town Council planning committee meeting, members agreed on their objections.

Cllr Andrew Milton said: "The entrance/exit they have proposed is in an exceptionally strange place. 

"I don't understand how that could possibly be deemed safe - it is a blind brow to the hill. 

"The bigger issue to me is the principle of development in this place. 

"They seem to be suggesting that this falls into grey belt, I don't see any justification as to why it is grey belt. It is definitely green belt. 

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"On that basis they do not appear to have made any attempt to articulate exceptional circumstances for development. 

"As a principle, the big issue is the strain it puts on the town's infrastructure. The traffic is already difficult in that area, we know the problems with medical facilities in the town in terms of people getting access to those."

Plans state half the homes would be designated 'affordable housing'.

Meanwhile two play areas and an extension to the neighbouring St Johns allotments would be created on the estate.

However, councillors said there were more fundamental issues with the idea of more houses on Rouncil Lane.

"This is an inappropriate development in green belt," said Cllr Adrian Marsh. 

"There is a lack of infrastructure to ensure that it becomes an integral part of our community. 

"I firmly agree from the point of view of health and education, there are not enough facilities to adequately compensate. 

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"In terms of safety, I think it is not an adequate proposal. 

"We only have to look around other parts of the towns at how housing developments have changed the nature of the town and made it more unsafe for the local community."

Other issues around the recent critical incident declared at Warwick Hospital and questions over whether local schools could cope with even more pupils were also raised.

Both Cllr Alan Chalmers and Cllr Neal Eaton also pointed out the recurring issues with the sewers which have been reported around Rouncil Lane and the neighbouring streets.

Cllr Chalmers said: "One of the points raised by one of the objectors was about the sewerage system. 

"There is no provision for that and it is already under strain in that part of the town without adding another 180 houses on top of that."

Cllr Eaton added: "There are known sewage problems in that area. 

"To build another estate, ignoring that situation without any acknowledgement of that major infrastructure issue."

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The land promoter did host a public consultation before the application was submitted.

Richborough said just 278 people visited the website for the development and only 44 left a response.

Issues raised included traffic along Rouncil Lane, the loss of farmland and the "wider development in Kenilworth on infrastructure capacity".

Multiple objections have already been made to the planning application.

Click here to see the plans in full.