A five-year development plan showing how the Birmingham Road Site is set to progress has been unveiled.
It was shown at Lichfield Cathedral earlier this week as part of a Staffordshire Ambassador event.
The animation shows how the land which was previously earmarked for the failed Friarsgate project will be revamped.
It highlights how part of the former Tempest Ford garage land will be used for temporary car parking in the initial phase ahead of the multi-storey being demolished next year.
The visual then points to the cinema arriving in late 2024 along with a “piazza connection” to the facility.
The council then expects 2025 to see the Kennings site fully revamped to create new homes, public open spaces and parking.
The bus station is also expected to move across the Birmingham Road from its current site in two years time, before work begins on the existing location and land where the police station once stood to create a public park, homes, parking and a hotel.
The later phases of the scheme in 2026/27 will see the removal of a temporary outdoor space where the multi-storey currently sits to make way for offices and new food and drink outlets.
The final aspect is expected to be the refurbishment of historical buildings at Lichfield District Council along with the creation of new homes.
Cllr Doug Pullen, leader of Lichfield District Council, said:
“I have long advocated that this site would need to be developed in smaller phases to attract developers and investment interest.
“This animation represents the extensive discussions, negotiations, site assessment and agreements that are needed in order to progress a site of such opportunity in Lichfield.
“The temporary car park will be installed soon and then the multi-storey car park will be removed to allow us to connect to Three Spires shopping centre and the new cinema which will open next year.
“Our partnership with Evolve Estates is ensuring that the gateway project, the new cinema, is now progressing and it is genuinely exciting and inspiring to know that we are finally making some progress that residents will be able to see.”
Cllr Doug Pullen, Lichfield District Council
The council has also confirmed that it will also be installing webcams soon for people to be able to see progress on the development of the new cinema.
Majority residential – there is a surprise…
If this amount of new residential had been allowed earlier the millions wasted on past schemes that didn’t get off the ground would have been saved and the site developed a lot earlier.
Well done LDC for finally smelling the coffee
A site right in the centre of the city, next to public transport hubs and the council want to build 2 storey houses. Either the site should be for facilities that everyone uses or else it should be high density affordable housing like apartment blocks (and not retirement homes either). There is no place in the city where apartments without car parking is more suitable.Tthis is the worst of both worlds.
It doesn’t look terrible. It makes me think that maybe a lot of people wouldn’t be so derisory of LDC development plans if LDC was better at communicating. None of the previous talk of demolishing the multistorey car park mentioned that replacement parking will be provided as is shown in this plan. The bus station illustration looks like Station Road has ceased to exist so some more detail on that would be interesting.
The video mentions “parking” twice, but it is not clear whether this will be public parking or parking for the homes being built. It clearly won’t be enough to make up for the loss of the multi-storey either way.
And there we have it… High density, cramped housing filling the site. How very disappointing. What a lost opportunity to use the site for something special that could serve Lichfield well for generations to come. Chasing sunk costs from previous bad decisions was inevitably going to give a bad outcome. It’s heartbreaking that this central site in our city is going to be yet more concrete.
Great ambition, but needs more realism on timescales, no way will there be homes built on the former kennings site by 2025.
Agree that need higher density affordable homes on site.
Who is taking bets on it happening or will the whole lot eventually be sold to a housing developer
Five Year Time Frame, for total completion of the Birmingham Road Site. ( failed Friars Gate) Well we have waited for the Jennings Fiasco completion longer than that.
Wish I could get excited but I feel another failure in the making.
And is there going to be another Doctors surgery to handle all these new residents? Green Hill health centre is already on its knees.
Jimmy – apartment blocks consisting of affordable housing? More Drugs and anti social behaviour in the centre anyone? And how high do you want these ugly concrete monstrosities right next door to a Grade 1 listed building? I hope you’re joking.
Have you not learnt anything from the mess they made of certain areas of Birmingham in the 60s? Some of you on here are utterly clueless. Lichfield would be turned into an inner city slum before we know it!
I can’t think of anything worse than apartment blocks on this site!!
Every time I go to the city centre I am forcefully reminded that LDC unceremoniously kicked out the Tempest Ford dealership (which I often used), demolished the buildings, and then, apparently realizing there was no funding for the trumpeted “development” that would replace it, left it a huge, empty , useless space. What a clever decision. How many years has it been now?
Yet MORE food outlets! Yet MORE housing! Not replacing the parking of whatever type for the spaces that are being lost. The housing that was put up around the London Rd/Birmingham Rd area is SO out of keeping with the area & the city in general, I’m losing faith in anything this council proposes now.
Just keep the bus station where it is, bets on its new location there wont be as many services
None of this will actually happen other than demolishing the multistorey carpark.
Simply shows the complete ineptitude of these Cllrs who constantly contradict themselves and never listen to residents. Preserve green spaces you said yet you still pursue the leisure centre on parkland when all you need is directly available on this derelict Birmingham road site and which would be deliverable in well under these timescales and provide the regeneration you seek. Sell off our cities freeholds and land to get your capital receipts for your deluded schemes and you leave a poor legacy for an historic cathedral city.
How many times has it been said that this project is on land that is a gateway into the city – why not cut losses and plant trees – make it a green gateway. How does housing invite anyone into the city?
I do not believe that the proposed replacement parking is anywhere near what is required to compensate for the loss of the multi storey.
Here we are being told that after 8+ years this is the Tories grand plan for Lichfield all summed up in a 2 min video, that probably cost the taxypayer £20k to make from someone overseas. A measel shift of the bustation across the road, to be crammed in with the train station. A cinema that has little hopes of sailing smooth, a pizza place & new homes the size of dorm rooms, where noise & air pollution levels are staggeringly above recommeneded levels. No mention of intention on expanding on local health & social care to meet this new increase on the local populace. I also must point out that in this video animation, it has purposely cut out St John Street & Birmingham Road Junction because its a daily nightmare.
Another “pie in the sky” development.
How many years has it taken to conclude to this?
This development is not going to bring much custom to Lichfield City Centre.
The Bus Station. Moving this to another location, its perfectly suited to where it is at the moment, moving it to elsewhere is going to cause major congestion.
Lichfield City Centre is too small for any major improvement.
Good to see that ‘some progress’ is at last planned for the Birmingham Road site, although there is not much to praise or excite. Unfortunately the economic climate suggests that progress will be significantly slower than the 5 years envisaged.
The Government’s preferred tool for reducing inflation is the Bank of England’s manipulation of interest rates. While some domestic renters and mortgage holders are taking an immediate hit, the real purpose is to supress the economy as a whole to choke off inflation, and it’s a slow fix, with the full impact not being felt for 15 to 18 months. Companies necessarily reininging back their investment and expansion plans and reducing their debt.
So the timing could not be worse. In reality the likely outcome of the ‘redevelopment’ in the medium term is a lot of long-term ‘temporary parking sites’, plenty of open space and more hoarding!
I can’t see much to applaud or support in this. We’ve waited 20 years, LDC has spent millions and this is the best they can come up with for such an important city centre site? Also its going to take another 5 years for this “masterplan” to be completed – but we still have to keep our fingers crossed that each phase will actually happen. No real change then after 20 years.
So knock down a decent multi storey car park that would be ideal for the cinema and could be council run to bring in revenue. Instead parking will be a private company ripping people off. You want to invite people into the city making it as easy as possible and cheaply as possible to park.
So this is the result of all that public consultation. I would contend that in no way is it representative of that input. I would further suggest that that exercise was a box ticking way of pretending inclusion.
If the council are so sure the citizens want what they propose then they should offer a referendum on the issue. This, after all, has been the most contentious issue in a decade or more regarding development of the city centre. There is no explanation why housing is the paramount feature. They plough on regardless in the knowledge that any resistance (ie through the ballot box) will come too late to prevent it happening.
Another glorious series balls ups on the way as usual.
I’m sure nobody reading these comments will have been remotely surprised that, after all the talk, and all the performative faux public consultation, what we end up with is a proposal whose only certain aspect is that yet more private housing will be built.
This is public land, and the public ought to have had a genuine opportunity to vote on a range of potential uses for the site. What recourse are we left with at this stage? One can only hope now for a least-worst outcome that this plan proves impossible to implement. Another nauseating spectacle, and a grossly squandered opportunity for Lichfield to be known for something other than shuttered businesses and a joke of an MP.
We don’t need a bus station? What’s wrong with a bus stop ? Buses pull in; load up and drive out. All drivers do is sit there with their engines running churning out diesel fumes.
As for housing why do we need anymore with the 1000’s being built around Lichfield? Once built you can never get back the open space. As mentioned we need trees, grass & a nice fountain to make visitors think “wow this is a nice place” Instead the council will allow 3 storey buildings which seem to be the new thing being built. If they build any keys make them match the surrounding buildings. I’m
Not putting a dampener on the grumbles. But alas! We may see the delightful pitter patter of little feet! Some toe tapping may come to light whats the problem people don’t you have cheesy smiles you only had to look at the billboarding into Lichfield gateway! for a decade of your life residents! Come on what’s the problem… ha. You know the other clip of it is It does get dreary with accommodation not being utilised empty shops etc., perhaps housing affordable for the younger ones not bad idea especially who is going to work and run the places. The only thing for me about housing is are we short of good architecture or what, some housing designs recently don’t fit in with the new greener build suggestions.. Timescales seem quite lengthy..suggestion too late a leisure centre with spa facilities like bannatyne on one of the spaces for hotel and housing? With green look and environment. More outdoor canopy cafes bars similar to Europe where it’s all happening would be good.
Please, please…take a look at lovely Shrewsbury and Ludlow and model Lichfield on it. They are a pleasure to visit, and all the old black and white timber buildings enhance them. Lichfield deserves better.
Why no underground car parking like they said was planned for original the new development?
And if bus station moving, I guess all the businesses on Station Road will have to relocate, because I fail to see how it will fit otherwise?
As far as extra Doctor surgeries go, we need one on the south side of Lichfield as we don’t have one, and all those new houses built, no doctors though. I wrote to Michael Fabricant, he Says they are lobbying parliament about it? Maybe every resident should write, then maybe they will do something?
Joy – write to Doug Pullen. I agree Lichfield should look at Shrewsbury as a model. It’s beautiful there.
Steve 07 a bus station is needed as not all buses are timetabled to arrive then immediately go. It is also used by coaches bring tourists, they have to park and wait somewhere for several hours
Completely agree about modelling this project on other cities. The planners here have a history of utterly horrendous build projects – actually the worst I’ve ever seen in this country and so bad you could make a portfolio of their disasters to educate planners around the world with half a brain.
Someone can’t do simple Maths.
It’s more than halfway through 2023 now.
July 2023 + 5 years = 2028
This plan only goes upto 2027
They’ve got 3 and half years to achieve all that. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Don’t panic, it’s all going to plan, the cinema operator is being named in March 2023!
Just rebuild Tempset Ford!!
So disappointing!! More houses!! What happened to making Lichfield a destination. Not enough parking for visitors, when the multi storey car park is demolished, smaller bus station, what is wrong with the one already there and the coach parking, looked fine to me last week. The railway station would benefit from being refurbished, and keeping the ticket office open. If the council carry on with the proposal being put forward, might as well shut the Garrick theatre now, followed by the shops, cafes and pubs. Make it a welcoming area, open spaces, planters, seating and better toilet facilities than the ridiculous two that are there now, which by the way, be careful if you use as they don’t lock properly!
When I moved to Lichfield in 1997 this development and it’s fabled cinema was being discussed. I hope to move away from Middle England soon and it will still be being discussed. The council is inept and lacks vision and courage as well as understanding the need and value of public services such as health centres and leisure facilities not to mention the lost opportunity of a public arts centre where the Ego restaurant now sits. Keep talking, more hot air to heat up our beleaguered planet!
What a shambles. More housing less infrastructure. NO parking. No facilities, more food outlets whoopee. And more isolation for yhe elderly and disabled. Total mess. I have a feeling its not what you know but who you know when it comes to planning.
I really would like a response from the council telling me where lone women theatre and cinema goers will park when they demolish the multi story car park. I can see my social life and support of the local arts being destroyed by people who honestly don’t seem to care!
The first phase of this plan is to install a small new car park on the Tempest Ford site of 60 places according to the map in the video; the old multi-storey car park to be demolished has 343 places of which 10 are reserved for blue badge holders, so where will the cars for 283 net missing places go when it is demolished? While there are times when the multistory is half empty, it is pretty full during busy weekends when the many festivals are running while the Friary car park only has a few free spaces at those times. With a new cinema and other evening entertainment locations planned it is clear that the car parking facilities at the Birmingham Road site will be insufficient. The Friarsgate development which was bound to fail, did include a large half below street car park of around 700 places. Surface car parks are not attractive so should be below street level, freeing the surface level for development; this should start at the Temple Ford end and gradually increased in size.
Every phase new homes, new homes, new homes, no different to what everyone know would happen
It will be a disaster
No thought of what could of been built there to make Lichfield stand out.
What a waste of money on all the public consultations.
Move the bus station so people using it have to cross the main road.
No mention of decent public toilets
Simple question – who does Doug Pullen consult? Is it his friends? People who agree with him? Make believe ‘people’? Organisations that support/agree with him? I guess like most people in the District Council area I’ve never been asked, never seen details of places to go to be consulted (until after the event is reported in Lichfield Live), never been knowingly given the opportunity to express an opinion that will form part of the consultation process. He no doubt has loads of reasons for not leafleting the Lichfield area or mailing all residents but these decisions actually are important to all residents, they impact on the quality of our lives in Lichfield to a greater or lesser extent. Why not a questionnaire in Lichfield Live, at least the readers are a large, diverse and opinionated group. Oh, that’s not what he wants, we may not agree with him! The regeneration of Lichfield city centre is not, nor ever should be a Doug Pullen vanity/knows best project. Consult properly, Doug!
@Alva, local councillors do care, the problem for us mere mortals is what they actually care about! From the photos of the recent presentation it looks like they want to be down with the kids, edgy geezers.
The developers know the Council is in a hole, it’s a fire sale. Getting involved in commercial contracts using Council reserves is just wrong if it flies then let business take the risk. Amenity should be the Council’s priority.