Plans to expand a guide dog training centre on Banbury Road to create a "national campus for both training and breeding" have been revealed.

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has applied to Warwick District Council to build a new single-storey training centre next to its existing national breeding facility in Bishop's Tachbrook.

If approved, the new training centre will be built on a parcel of land called the Tollgate which was used for training by the charity until the new centre was built in 2010.

The application says the association wants the centre to "be overlaid with an 'enhanced visitor experience', with improved facilities, telling the story of the 'life journey of a guide dog'".

"The proposals will enable the more efficient running of the charity by relocating the existing training facilities from Leamington Spa [on Warwick New Road] to one site thereby resulting in a more cohesive and effective training facility which is an important step to enhancing GDBA's existing operation," it added.

The charity wants to create a 'national campus for both training and breeding' (image via planning application)

Plans show the new centre would include indoor and outdoor training areas, meeting rooms and 'dog day care' rooms.

"There is an aspiration that Guide Dogs' sites allow for opportunities for training of dogs in as real-life scenarios as possible," the application added. 

"The existing external dog training facilities at the northern corner of the site will be fully utilised and with additional footpath connections to create circulatory routes will aid this training experience."

Leader of the council Cllr Andrew Day has submitted a letter of support for the project, but also questioned why no footpath connections to Oakley Wood opposite had been included.