A CONSULTATION on the future regeneration of Warwick District Council’s Leamington headquarters has launched.
Residents are being asked to comment on a new development brief for the Milverton Hill site which has stood near empty for over a year.
A new Leamington Neighbourhood Plan, the climate change emergency and an ambition to enhance public access to the river are all considerations being considered in a new approach to its development.
Planning permission for housing, which was granted in 2018, has now lapsed, and the council says its project team has ‘set a high bar for any future developer’.
Previous plans for the site included up to 170 new homes, with its sale funding the council’s HQ relocation to a purpose-built HQ at Covent Garden, along with a new 620-space multi-storey car park and private housing. They faced fierce opposition due to concerns around disruption, over-development and lack of affordable housing.
But the future council accommodation is no longer connected with the redevelopment of the Covent Garden car park site and will be considered separately at a later date.
Warwick District Council (WDC) says the consultation is part of its aim to form a dialogue with parties including the town council, the Leamington Society, the Chamber of Trade, and other community groups and neighbours, to gain a collective view on future developments.
WDC leader Andrew Day said: “New thinking, driven by our response to the climate emergency and a recognition that the pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we work, means that this key site can come forward for a changed purpose.
“Riverside House has been virtually empty for more than a year, with most staff working remotely. The building will not enable us to meet our climate change goals and is an increasing burden on council tax payers.
“We’re keen to create the maximum public benefit possible from this regeneration opportunity, so would like to hear the views of as many as possible on how we can achieve this.”
Visit www.warwickdc.gov.uk/RSHconsultation to view and comment before October 1.
There will also be online Q&A sessions on August 25 at 1pm and September 14 at 6pm.
Feedback from the consultation will be presented to council leaders in November.
