Council land sale could pave way for 5,000 new homes

A 190-acre plot of land owned by Coventry City Council could be sold to make way for up to 5,000 new homes between Coventry and Kenilworth.



Land at King’s Hill, near Warwick University, has been offered to Warwick District Council as a potential development site.

The plot lies within Warwickshire’s boundary and contains a large expanse of Green Belt land.

A letter was sent to Warwick District Council this week confirming that Coventry City Council would not object to the sale of the land.

The news will come as a blow to hundreds of Finham residents who had previously campaigned against development on the land as it would erode the countryside between Coventry and Kenilworth.

But Coun Ann Lucas, leader of Coventry council, said: “Coventry City Council owns around 190 acres of a 650 acre site in Warwick District Council.

“At this stage, Coventry City Council has simply informed Warwick District Council it would be willing to sell this land for housing development.

“This could provide the council with more than £25million in capital receipts, and could provide between 3,500 and 5,000 much needed new homes in the area.

“Any decision to develop on this land will be made by Warwick District Council and would depend on the land being identified for housing in (their) local plan which has not been finalised yet.”

But Wainbody ward councillor Tim Sawdon has vowed to do everything in his power to ensure that the scheme does not go ahead, saying: “The residents of Finham are totally opposed to these proposals, as are all three Wainbody councillors.

“I will fight tooth and nail to stop these plans going ahead.

“I want to make it quite clear that I am adamantly opposed to any development on King’s Hill.

“It would completely damage a Green Belt area that Coventry needs on its boundaries.

“The city would be encroaching further and further on the green strip between Kenilworth and Coventry.”

Warwick District Council’s draft local plan is still under consultation until June 27.

Council leader Councillor Andrew Mobbs, said: “I am still awaiting the formal, written approach.

“But we will, as always, give every due consideration to these proposals in our deliberations over our Local Plan.”

He shall fight them in the fields...



If Coventry is to pocket £25million from selling off farmland for housing it faces a battle against the enemy within.

An unlikely pincer movement with a veteran Tory councillor in the east and Warwick University to the west aims to stop 5,000 homes being built off Kings Hill Lane between Finham and Stoneleigh.

Coventry city council has offered to sell 190 acres to Warwick District Council for new houses.

The proposal faces massive objections from Finham residents led by ‘field marshall’ Tim Winspear Sawdon, who represents the Tory stronghold of Wainbody, bordering the green-belt site.

The former Lord Mayor should have detailed knowledge of the lie of the land as he lives in Stoneleigh, just down the road from Kings Hill Lane.

The village has a proud history of fighting off incursions from Coventry, having once sacrificed a pub during a skirmish in the late 19th century.

Stoneleigh dictator Lord Leigh, was so appalled at the behaviour of tipsy cyclists from Coventry who whistled and called after one of his daughters, he ordered the village’s only pub to close and decreed there should never be another.

Coun Sawdon has recovered some of the spirit that once saw him Tory Party leader in Coventry, firing off a first salvo with a Churchillian: “I will fight tooth and nail to stop these plans going ahead.”

Meanwhile, Warwick University, switching camouflage from poacher to gamekeeper, has already launched a stealth attack.

The uni has lodged a formal objection with Warwick District Council, which already owns a large wedge of the surrounding land, over any development.

It’s a remarkable strategy given the uni’s own largely unfettered growth but it is concerned about its supply lines – the roads leading to the campus – over which it seems to assume sovereignty.

As non-uni motorists well know to their frustration during rush hours, Stoneleigh Road, Kenilworth Road and Westwood Heath Road are occupied territory by uni staff.

The uni warns of dire consequences should the development go ahead, but has spotted an exit strategy if it has to concede: “Consideration should be given to a new road linking an upgraded junction on the A46 at Stoneleigh with Westwood Heath Road at Kirby Corner”.

Nice try, but hasn’t HS2 already got first dibs on that stretch?