Plans approved for police HQ upgrades

The plans will mean an additional 260 parking spaces at the police base in Leek Wootton

Warwickshire Police has been given planning permission for 260 extra parking spaces at its headquarters.

The force's plans also included additional lighting, security and connecting paths at the site off Woodcote Lane in Leek Wootton.

There will also be a new one-way road system installed, which attracted objections from locals who said it could affect the junction of The Anchor pub.

Warwick District Council officers said it was "not a great junction" but added there would be no greater impact than at present because traffic volumes would not increase.

"From the perspective of highways colleagues, the level of traffic using the site will remain unchanged in their opinion, and there would be no further impacts on the Anchor junction as a result of this development," an officer said.

Assistant chief constable Ben Smith said the proposal would help ensure officers deployed from the site could do so effectively and safely.

Ward councillor Josh Payne noted previously-approved plans for housing on neighbouring land, sold by Warwickshire Police when the force had expected to leave its current headquarters.

He also highlighted plans for a nature reserve nearby and the prospect of housing plans on the Kenilworth School site among his concerns.

Councillors on the planning committee heard there were 41 objections from locals and the parish council.

The committee approved the plans with instructions that building work must not conflict with work by Cala Homes on the neighbouring site.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.