Plans to redevelop a set of shops along Warwick Road have been objected to by Kenilworth Town Council at a meeting on Monday December 21.

The buildings along 76 to 84 Warwick Road will be converted into five two-bedroom houses, three one-bedroom flats and four new shop units should the plans be approved by Warwick District Council’s (WDC) planning committee.

However, the shop owners were apparently unaware of the plans until they appeared on WDC’s planning website.

Karen Delahunty, owner of Karen Delahunty Sewing Knitting Centre, said she was not consulted about the plans in advance and only found out about them on Thursday December 17 when a customer pointed out a planning notice affixed to a lamppost.

Since then, she has set up a petition against the plans, and has received support from several customers and businesses. She said: “It’s been amazing how many people have supported us already.” Other businesses affected by the plans include computer shop Techpoint and salon Cutz.

Councillors objected to the plans because the new retail units proposed will be smaller than what is already there, and the plans did not account for number 84 being a listed building.

Cllr George Illingworth (Con, Abbey) said: “It’s quite simple as far as I’m concerned – one of the buildings is listed and the application makes no reference to this whatsoever. But even if it wasn’t listed, the cottage is still a heritage asset and should be retained.

“The units are also fully occupied – if they were empty this would be completely different.

Cllr Michael Coker (Con, Abbey), said: “I can only express surprise that an architect-led application did not deal with the listed building. Also, the fact that businesses have not been consulted is extraordinary.”