A councillor has ruled out forcing all future housing developments in Lichfield and Burntwood to be carbon neutral.

Iain Eadie
Cllr Iain Eadie

Cllr Iain Eadie, cabinet member for the Local Plan at Lichfield District Council, told a meeting of the cabinet this week that such a proposal would have the potential to prevent new homes being built.

His comments came after Cllr Andy Smith questioned why the draft Local Plan 2040 had not included the measure to align with the local authority’s own plan to become carbon neutral.

But Cllr Eadie said that while some requirements were made, a carbon neutral requirement would be too restrictive.

“We obviously recognise that is important and why we have called for new housing development to be energy efficient and we’re calling for electric vehicle charging points.

“My concern would be if we turned round and said all housing must be carbon neutral, we’ll end up in a situation where the development that needs to come forward won’t come forward.

“That would have quite severe implications for us because if we don’t meet our housing needs we can end up losing decision-making powers with regards to planning.

“We’ve called for the measures in the Local Plan around electric vehicle charging points and energy efficiency – we’re not dictating what that needs to look like.”

Cllr Iain Eadie, Lichfield District Council

The draft Local Plan 2040 outlines the future of housing proposals across the district, which could see more than 9,700 new homes built in the next 20 years.

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The Scribbler
3 years ago

Cllr Eadie really should take notice of what his party is suggesting at a national level. The Housing Minister recently announced an industry-backed shift as regards new developments.

“In response to the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission report, the government is:

Proposing changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to place greater emphasis on beauty and place-making, and to ensure that all new streets are lined with trees.
Publishing a draft national design code that provides a checklist of design principles to consider for new developments, such as street character, building type, façade, and the requirements that address wellbeing and environmental impact, which councils can use as a foundation for their own local design codes.”

It is also “Encouraging all councils to publish their unique design code, so residents have a real say in the design of new developments in their area.”

We want that Cllr Eadie.

Don
3 years ago

Literally nothing will stop Wadie in his way of making Lichfield one massive housing development. He bemoans “our hands are tied” when accused of affording planning permission to virtually any proposed housing development, yet rejects any legitimate measures to restrict it.

Denise
3 years ago

Cllr Eadie seems to have an answer for everything doesn’t he?
What does he mean by his comments?
Is he saying developers won’t make enough huge profits?
Let’s be clearer please.

Sarah Landon
3 years ago

Let’s put it this way when he quotes that ‘Hands are tied’ literally means if we change our plans we’ll loose money and when I use the term ‘we’ll’ I mean ‘he’ll’

Why is he so determined to kill off all of the green belt around the city?

Why is he against carbon neutral housing?

Why is his name mentioned in every quarrel that’s bubbling currently in Lichfield

It’s about time that the people of Lichfield remove him before he ruins what was once a beautiful place to live!

Cllr Alastair Little
3 years ago

Well it does seem scrutiny is still part the process rather than part of democracy. This plan is not Cllr Eadie saving us from giving paradise to developers but him putting developers in in a bull dozer ready to roll over our heritage and identity.

AnnS
3 years ago

It’s always going to be the Eadie way or no way. But as ever when the next local elections come round he’ll no doubt be voted in again because the majority of people don’t research or even know what he has or hasn’t achieved, but what colour runs up his mast.

Derek
3 years ago

Absolutely disgusted by this, and all because Eadie doesn’t want to make things difficult for developers……

Massive, massive mistake.

Ian “concrete turns me on” Eadie needs to go – he’s an embarrassment.

Denise
3 years ago

It’s unbelievable in this day and age that the council are not considering the carbon footprint.
If the developers are saying no way, call their bluff.
We don’t need their out of date backward thinking.