The government decided last year that 10,800 should be constructed in Warwick district by 2020. A public consultation on the matter ended last week to which thousands responded.

But government officials have now stated an extra 4,000 homes need to be built across the 'sub-region' of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull - to the alarm of district councillors.

Speaking at an executive meeting last week at Leamington town hall, Coun Bernard Kirton (Ind, Whitnash) said: "If local authorities don't do what the government says, they may get some of their tax taken away. It makes you wonder what kind of consultation process this really is."

Coun Felicity Bunker (Con, Kenilworth Park Hill) added: "If we are just paying lip-service agreeing to something when we are simply going to be told to do something else five years down the line, why are we wasting our time? I feel very sceptical about this one."

According to the government's housing plan, up to 23,000 houses would need to be built in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull within the next 12 years, instead of 19,000 as agreed in November last year.

The district's green belt could be considered for development because the housing report states that this may be a more sustainable option, even though there is land available that is not within the green belt.

Head of planning at Warwick District Council, John Archer, said: "The strongest way of approaching this is within the sub-regional context. If we try to approach it on our own, the costs will be significantly higher.

"But we need to make sure there is a recognition that each sub-region within the West Midlands should meet its own housing needs in accordance with government principles."

* Are you convinced all these new homes are needed? Send your views to:
letters@leamingtoncourier.co.uk