TWO hundred homes could be built on land behind Leamington train station.
Waterloo Housing Group is looking to build on the Station Approach site, which is currently used as a car park, as well as adjacent land occupied by Stragecoach bus depot.
The social housing group already has an existing scheme with Warwick District Council called W2 that sees them provide affordable homes throughout the district and the new housing plans would form part of that same scheme.
The new homes – with off-street parking for residents – would be let through the council’s choice-based lettings scheme and could see 150 homes made available to rent, part-buy or part-rent through shared ownership with the remainder for outright sale.
The proposals are also set to include a separate council-run car park with 100 spaces.
The group have already carried out public consultation on the plans and say they expect to submit a formal planning application to Warwick District Council sometime this month.
Ward district councillor Jerry Weber said: “Reaction to this development has been generally positive as there will be a high proportion of affordable housing and homes to rent.
“The questions that have been raised are – why is there such a high density of parking including a public car park, and will the proposed link to Victoria Park to the West of the site be disability, cycling and family friendly?”
If given the green light, the work – which would be carried out by AC Lloyd in phases for up to three years – could begin before the end of the year.
But as it stands, the proposals are dependent on two other planning applications – one enabling Chiltern Railways to extend its existing car park and the other allowing for nearby Stagecoach to relocate to purpose-built premises near Whitnash.
The former Quicks site has been subjected to a number of planning application in the past – the most recent of which was by Miller Homes Ltd back in 2007.
But the plans – for 115 flats and seven houses – were turned down by Warwick District Council, who feared the close proximity to the Stagecoach bus depot would make life a misery for residents due to round the clock noise.
Managing director of Stagecoach Midlands, Steve Burd, this week confirmed the company was currently in discussions about the possible sale of its Leamington site.
He said it was also considering purchasing a new site on Poseidon Way in Trident Park but owing to ongoing commercial discussions, he was unable to comment further.
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