People are being given a final chance to have their say on a new design code for area.
Lichfield District Council has launched a consultation on the document which will set rules for developments in the future.
Issues such as building height, environment, conservation and heritage are covered by the code which has been developed with consultants BDP.
It sets out categorisation for different areas across the district, including city centre, cathedral precinct, suburban, village, urgan and employment.
The local authority said that while the code does not dictate the architectural style of developments, it encourages “high quality design” that fits in with surrounding areas.
Before it is adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document, a consultation will run over a six week period until 3rd June.
Lichfield District Council’s cabinet member for housing and the Local Plan, Cllr Alex Farrell, said:
“The Lichfield District Council Supplementary Planning Document is a blueprint for future development across the district.
“It’s important for future prosperity and amenity so please engage with the consultation.
“The online document contains hyperlinks so it’s easy to navigate to areas of specific interest.”
Cllr Alex Farrell
The document is available to view on the council’s website. Hard copies of the document and comment forms will be available from tomorrow (24th April) at Lichfield District Council’s reception in Frog Lane, at Burntwood Town Council’s offices on Queen Street, Burntwood Leisure Centre and Friary Grange Leisure Centre.
Face to face sessions are also being planned during the consultation period.
Comments on the document can be submitted to Lichfield District Council by emailing [email protected] or by posting them to Policy and Strategy, District Council House, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6YZ.
I’ve looked at this design code and it does absolutely nothing to prevent another Persimmon or Taylor Wimpey estate being built. There are no upper limits on densities of developments meaning developers can cram in as many houses as they like (postage stamp garden anyone?) and nothing to prevent characterless stock housing being built everywhere. Total waste of time.
If you care about how Lichfield will look in future I suggest you comment and say that we need lower densities and LIMITS on density, as well as architectural principles that ensure that our villages look like villages (not toy houses that could be anywhere) which means quality and traditional architecture and Lichfield retains its unique charm.
Totally agree. Lichfield is looking cheap. Hideous new houses built by greedy developers. Ugly buildings overpriced, rammed together.
We need fewer developments or none.
Moved here 10, years ago because it was quiet on the roads. Now its so busy I can’t get around. Too many people. Not good enough infrastructure to support these eyesores.
Lichfield is becoming just another dull generic suburb.
Sadly Lichfield is now surrounded from all angles by Ticky Tacky Housing.,
No Infrastructure in place to accommodate the extra population.
Schools, Hospitals Medical Services Struggling along with Roads crumbling to Tracks.
Along with other comments on here I too have looked at the design Code..It is a Total Shambles.
This is not progression this is destruction of Local Charm.
as I said previous.
little houses made out of Ticky Tacky and they all look just the same.
Section 1 of the Design Code covers Movement including parking. The preferred method is multistorey and surface car parks are to be avoided.
LDC are about to knock down a multistorey and replace it wuth surface parking. You couldn’t make it up!
Another classic case of shutting the door after the horse has bolted. Its not a bit of good imposing rules and regulations there is not a scrap of land left to build any more housing estates on!
Its time to pull the plug on mass dectruction of Lichfield.
Why the continuing defence of the multi storey car park. The one decision the council have got right. It’s a 60’s concrete monstrosity well past its use by date.
That carpark is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen.
I totally agree PParker and others, but you do realise exactly why that is? Because our Council has insisted that new (huge) developments must consist of 85% small housing (not including affordable housing, if that’s counted it’s probably over 90%). In this context small means 1/2 bed flats, and small 2 and 3 bed housing. This means that to make money, developers cram these small houses into rows of tightly packed terraces and semi detached, with no or very small drives and tiny gardens.
These houses are invariably cheaply made with no redeeming features. You’ll hardly ever see a bay window for instance, as this costs the developer more money for houses they know they make a lower return on. So we can thank our myopic council for these cheap estates dominated by hard surfaces that resemble prisons, aka Taylor Wimpey estate. All to keep Lichfield as cheap as possible, whereas other places like Melton Mowbray are adding beautiful new developments to their town (see Wellington Place).
I have contributed to these surveys in the past. They are a complete waste of time! A tick box exercise. The outcome in no way represents what the residents wanted and has permanently destroyed the ambience of a once lovely city.
House density has steadly risen from the earlier and acceptable example of Boley Park. The design, quality and density of other developments are now at an all time low.
You cannot help but feel the council and planners have ulterior motives. Perhaps our eventual and inevitable integration into Greater Birmingham.