Ford site: time to decide

Warwick District Council planning committee will debate revised plans for a Morrisons supermarket and ‘landmark’ office building around the site of the former Ford Foundry in Princes Drive.

The amended scheme asks for full planning permission for a Morrisons supermarket and landscaping and outline permission for offices, industrial buildings and parkland.

Amendments include a larger hotel with one smaller office block omitted, redesigned junction and cycle routes and revised landscaping.

Planning officials have recommended granting permission, provided developer Trilogy Developments pays £50,000 towards a new bus interchange at Leamington station, £300,000 to divert buses past the site and money for Brunswick Employment Club.

There has been overwhelming support from residents but Deeley Properties and Waitrose, who are hoping to build a supermarket on the current Leamington fire station site and a new fire station off Queensway, have made a joint objection.

• Read this week’s Courier (Friday August 11) for the full story.