A plan for the future development of Lichfield and Burntwood has been approved as sound by an inspector.
The Local Plan Allocations document seeks to designate areas for future housing and employment development.
It also reviews planning policies used to determine applications for planning permission.
Craig Jordan, head of economic growth for Lichfield District Council, said: “We’re really pleased the inspector’s report has determined that our Local Plan Allocations document is sound and legally compliant.
“This is a large body of work that sets out where future development should go across the district. It is the second part of our local plan, which we are currently reviewing.”
Subject to the final modifications suggested by the inspector being made, the plan will be presented at full council on 16th July for it to be formally adopted.
The full report and associated documents are available at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/allocations.
This is the key paragraph in the Inspector’s report for me.
“I have already concluded under Issue 1 that the proposed housing distribution in the submitted Plan is justified in relation to Burntwood and that no further housing allocations are therefore necessary. Although some representors would wish that further housing allocations in the Green Belt were made in the Plan, in the light of my conclusions in Issue 1 there is no need. I therefore
conclude that the “exceptional circumstances” do not exist to justify the alteration of the Green Belt boundaries to enable new development on the edge of Burntwood in advance of a future review of the LPS.”
Good work by LDC’s officers, Burntwood Action Group and local councillors (not me – only just back) but am aware of the pressure from developers and the Government (the Secretary of State) overturning the Inspector’s support for Lichfield District Council when they refused the Curborough development of up to 750 dwellings.
Not yet looked at other Green Belt areas in the District.
@Steven Norman….. It occurs to me that if the Secretary of State is prepaired to overide local decisions on the grounds of ‘public need’ then effectively nowhere has protective status; Green Belt or otherwise. There will always be public need regardless of urban spread. More money in the council coffers no doubt from the rabbit hutch developments ( we build the smallest houses in Europe) but a massive strain on infrastructure and facilities. There is no end to this and the demise of a once historic midlands gem is a certainty. There has, of course, always been development in and around Lichfield but never in the thousands now proposed (ie agreed). It isn’t an Elephant in the room its an Alligator. It will consume us all.