A housing developer has been given unanimous approval for 150 new homes between Warwick and Leamington Spa, just months after taking over the site.

Miller Homes’ application for the development off Harbury Lane was approved by Warwick District Council’s planning committee this week, with one councillor describing the scheme as “acceptable” but “not exciting”.

The estate - which already has outline permission - will form part of the much wider Oakley Grove development which will ultimately see 900 homes, a secondary school, primary school and country park built.

This latest application - known as a reserved matters - was for the designs and details of the 150 homes in phase three.

Representing Bishop’s Tachbrook Parish Council, Cllr Keith Willstead said a meeting had been held with Miller Homes which had “largely allayed” the council’s concerns with the development.

Outline plans for the new housing estate (image via planning application)

However, he called for a footpath along Harbury Lane to be built much sooner than the six month time frame conditioned in the application.

“You will see that people are walking down the verge along a 40mph road, pushing pushchairs down there at nine o’clock in the morning,” he said at Tuesday's (March 11) planning committee. 

“It is an absolute death trap waiting to happen. 

“We are pleased to see it is being recognised by the planners and by Miller Homes.”

District councillors agreed, and also raised concerns about the mix of houses on site.

Cllr Peter Phillips said: “We have got a major application coming forward where the housing mix includes zero one-bed, in the market housing. 

“Most applications I have seen in the last two years have included zero, one-beds.”

But principal planning officer Adam Walker explained: “For the market housing where there aren’t any one beds, the developer has put some justification forward. 

“In this location there wouldn’t be a market for those type of houses. 

“We have taken that into account. 

“We have looked at the housing mix in the round across the whole site, and considered that overall an acceptable balance is provided.”

Following a lengthy discussion, councillors unanimously voted in favour of granting the application.

But Cllr Bill Gifford added: “It is not an exciting development, it is not a development that makes me think ‘wow, I am glad we have got this’. 

“But it is acceptable. 

“It is a development that I don’t think we can refuse and therefore we need to grant.”

See the full council report here.