Councillors have warned that a new design code proposed for land in Lichfield city centre risks introducing “unwanted uniformity”.
The style guide for the Birmingham Road Site has been drawn up in a bid to influence future building on the former Friarsgate plot.
Councillors in Stowe ward are among those who have been asked to give their views on the latest revisions to the design code, which covers things such as provision for parking, green spaces, accessibility and the overall look of buildings.
Lib Dem representative Cllr Hugh Ashton said:
“Generally we are in agreement with the majority of the provisions in the Code when it comes to sustainable living, affordable housing to be distributed throughout the development, and the use and design of roads and green spaces.
“Where we fail to agree with the proposed code as it currently stands is in the style of architecture prescribed there.”
Cllr Hugh Ashton
Labour’s Cllr Ann Hughes, who also serves as Mayor of Lichfield City Council, added:
“We are fully conscious of the fact that the area is adjacent to historic buildings and that there must be harmony between the new developments on the Birmingham Road Site and existing heritage assets such as St John’s Hospital.
“We certainly don’t want to see another Premier Inn or McCarthy Stone development. However, we also don’t want another Poundbury.
“As Mayor of the City of Lichfield, I am keen to raise the profile of the city – one of the ways of achieving this goal is the intelligent use of architectural design.
“The Birmingham Road Site is being promoted as the gateway to the buildings of this historic city. We would like to see some part of this gateway possessing distinction in its own right.”
Cllr Ann Hughes
Fellow Labour representative for Stowe ward, Cllr Russ Bragger, said the design code lacked a “contemporary feel”.
“The code as it currently stands risks imposing an unwelcome uniformity on the development.
“There seems to be no option to allow sympathetic modern design to be included. Although example illustrations of buildings labelled as ‘contemporary’ are included within the document alongside mock-Georgian and mock-Victorian designs, they do not have a truly contemporary feel.”
Cllr Russ Bragger
“Iconic landmark”
The Stowe councillors have also called for the Birmingham Road Site development to feature a new “iconic landmark” tourist and visitor centre.
Cllr Ashton said:
“We’re not talking about a square concrete-and-glass box – an internet search for contemporary buildings constructed with traditional materials as specified in the design code brings up a range of interesting ideas, some of which could be used to produce a facility which would harmonise with other parts of the new development.
“Yes, new architecture is often controversial, but simply copying past trends will leave future generations with the impression that this period lacked any originality of style.”
Cllr Hugh Ashton
Totally disagree with these Labour councillors. God, no wonder all recent architecture in Lichfield is so hideous with these people in charge. Traditional buildings are so popular because they are beautiful, as opposed to the cheap modern monstrosities that we see everywhere today. I hope the other councillors stick to the traditional design approach on this development l, of the sort proposed for the Beacon Street development by Friel Homes. Not another modern style ugly building which is all Lichfield will get if we relax the design code as it gives developers carte blanche to produce something cheap which maximises profit.
And for the record, Poundbury is widely seen as a success and a desirable place to live. Compare it to another new town, like say, Telford or Milton Keynes, which adopted a more “modern” approach, and I know which one looks more attractive!
Don’t vote Labour in the local elections as this is the sort of rubbish you get!
As a representative of Stowe ward on the City Council I fully endorse the comments of the District councillors for the ward. The small changes needed shouldn’t delay the development significantly but we need to get this right as it will be one of the main gateways to the City for years to come.
This is why I’m glad I brought CreateStreets in – the last thing I want anywhere on this site is “truly contemporary” architecture! (and from the work CreateStreets did with almost 6,000 responses I think the wider-public agree).
A high-level overview is available here: https://www.createstreets.com/projects/site-design-code-lichfield/
This sounds like a throwback to the 1960s. These lot seem to hate anything traditional and stylish. Even worse if the Royal Family is involved. The whole USP of Lichfield is the traditional feel. It is like they hate what their own country is about and this is just a manifestation?
Gable fronted houses, kentish tile, dutch dormer windows, shallow pitched norwegian roofs, flat roofs. All look very dated now.
Chimneys, hip and ridge roofs, bay windows, porch, lintels, stone window cills. Nah.
We have more than enough horrors thank you. EGO, Natwest, Registry office extension, B and M, the building Bill Tandy is in. Monstrous carbuncles once again is the way to go?
The strange thing is generally species lefty public sectorus don’t like new build estates and can often be found in the habitat of Victorian era properties.
Make it all stop please. Hopeless and more hopeless seems to sum up the members of LDC.
Please may I ask. How much Create Streets is costing the Tax Payer.Along with other outside agencies being utilised.
Just about spells out that LDC lack imagination.
7 Years we have been waiting for the failed Friars Gate to be resolved. Still we have the unsightly Hoardings.
Come on LDC ,resolve before next decade.
Most importantly stick to Traditional Architecture not Ticky Tacky Square Boxes.
A visitor center is completely pointless when there is already the hub within 5 mins which cost an arm and a leg already. Just make it housing, in any style because it’s desperately needed. Although I doubt much of it will actually be affordable to most.
“the last thing I want anywhere on this site is “truly contemporary” architecture!”
Something similar was probably said in 1195 when it was proposed replacing the old Norman cathedral with adventurously designed, truly contemporary, three-spired Gothic cathedral.
Is the best we can do the pastiche suggested by Create Streets? Good modern architecture can comfortably and attractively sit alongside older buildings.
Labour, LibDem and Tories are all missing the point. People don’t want housing on this site, regardless of what it looks like. Most would like to keep a bus station and a multi-storey car park. The former Kennings plot would also be more suitable for a leisure centre than the proposed site in Stychbrook Park. Failing that, many would rather see the site left as an open green space until a future Council with more imagination can come up with something better than more housing.
This land should have been simply and cost effectively landscaped as soon as the Friarsgate plan fell through. Think grassed area, pathways and benches. Maybe a well placed tree or two.
Just imagine, all these years later, having watched that slowly mature rather than a mound of rubble gradually appear from behind disintegrating hoardings.
Perhaps we could sit on the grass with an ice cream whilst deciding what to do with it. Aaaah, the old hippy in me coming out there!
I think maybe we should get Friel Homes involved. Their development in front of Darwin House, and through to the park is classy, Lichfeldian and sympathetic to it’s surroundings.
Whatever design style they use, housing is not the right thing do, on this gateway site into Lichfield
Seems an odd place for homes. Not much of an inspirational gateway is it? I’m with the green space idea. We’ve enough ugly concrete in our treasured city.