But planners at Warwick District Council have stressed that no decision has yet been made on the sites, which were suggested to the council by landowners or developers after it published its draft plan for new development last year.

Sites in Cubbington, Sydenham, Kenilworth, north of Warwick and Burton Green have been put forward. Submissions also included land around Coventry Airport and Coventry Golf Club, although both would remain in use.

A six-week public consultation will begin on February 26.

Cllr John Hammon, who is responsible for development policy, explained the council was doing this because if it did not consider every option there was a risk future planning decisions could be challenged at public inquiries.

He said: "There have been no decisions made whatsoever. We are putting them out for consultation before we consider whether they are suitable or not."

The council was granted an extension to take into account widepsread opposition to its original proposals for future housebuilding in the area. The Government had asked the district to find space for 10,800 homes, later raising this to 11,000.

Cllr Hammon (Con, Cubbington) said that if the new sites were considered suitable, they could be added to the council's preferred options, but added that concerns such as the need for new roads and sewers, currently being investigated by officals, would need to be taken into account.

He added that the council expected to have a draft of its final recommendations by the time its local plan ran out in September, and a final strategy ready for adoption by early 2011.

Organisations such as water company Severn Trent, the Environment Agency and Warwickshire County Council will also be consulted on the new sites.

www.warwickdc.gov.uk/corestrategy