Here are the biggest local planning stories from the past week.

Formal Complaint

Warwick District Council has appointed an external consultant to investigate its handling of a controversial planning appeal. 

The authority has confirmed it received a formal complaint over a poultry farm in Norton Lindsey receiving planning permission through a national inspector after the application had been refused by the council in January 2023. 

It was a saga that ran over more than five years amid objections and previously failed appeals but a watered-down version went through after the council's sole reason to object – on the grounds of highway safety – was no longer supported by Warwickshire County Council, the highways authority that is consulted as the expert on such matters.

Read more here

Leper Hospital

Locals are being given the opportunity to find out more about the ongoing works at one of Warwick's most important historic buildings.

A public information event will be held in September by the team working to bring St Michael's Place in Saltisford back to life.

Work on site began earlier this year, with the project set to see the grade II listed Master's House and St Michael's Chapel "sensitively and sympathetically" converted for residential use.

Read the full story here.

St John's

Locals have just days left to share their views on proposed changes around St John's junction in Warwick.

Residents have until the end of August to voice their opinions, as Warwickshire County Council presses ahead with a major roadworks project in the area.

Ultimately the scheme will see a new cycle route built from the Spinney Hill roundabout - where it will connect to the National Cycle Network Route 52 to Kenilworth - and the St John's junction on the edge of Warwick town centre. 

Read more here.

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