PROPOSALS for a redevelopment scheme in Lichfield are not appropriate for a gateway to the city centre, Liberal Democrat councillors have said.
Members of Lichfield District Council will decide on plans to sell the former Tempest Ford plot for new homes next week.
Under proposals being put forward for the first portion of the Birmingham Road Site by developer CB Collier, a mix of townhouses and apartments are proposed at the corner of Birmingham Road and St John Street, as well as underground parking.
It is the first stage of the overall plans for the former Friarsgate land, which also includes the bus station and former police station plot.
But Cllr Paul Ray, leader of the opposition Lib Dem group, said his party were unhappy with the “unimaginative” development plans. He said:
“Councillors will be discussing the plans for the Birmingham Road Site at a full council meeting this week – and the proposal for the initial phase on the old Kennings garage site to be sold to a developer.
“The overall plan for the Birmingham Road Site has now been revealed and made public, but as Lichfield Lib Dems we say that it is simply just not right for Lichfield.
“I have been on the task group that has overseen these plans and have continually raised objections, but the other parties have supported them. Those meetings were confidential but now the plans are public and so available for all to see.
“They are so unimaginative and just create big blocks of housing in the centre of our beautiful city.
“The original objective was to make the Birmingham Road Site development a place of impact and style as it is a gateway into the city. These plans just do not achieve that.”
Cllr Ray said he hoped locals would make their views known on the proposals for the Birmingham Road Site. He said:
“We can do so much better with the Birmingham Road Site than these plans.
“We are asking residents ‘is this really what you want?’ and are asking them to get in touch with us to let us know their views.”
We were promised something a bit different to this high-end housing not so long ago, so what has changed? And as for the ludicrous proposals on the bus station the LDs are right, this site is supposed to be a gateway and transport hub for the city!
just get on with the work its been a eye sore for to long build the houses get the money in the bank the place puts people off lichfield at the moment
And where is the bus station?
Honestly, I really don’t think these councillors have the ability to think things through to the end!
Is Paul Ray serious? A few years ago he was arguing the complete opposite, urging the council to get affordable housing built there as soon as possible.
https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2021/08/09/councillors-call-for-building-work-to-begin-on-eyesore-site-left-empty-by-failed-friarsgate-scheme/
Now housing isn’t appropriate for the gateway to the city? Heaven help us if his lot ever get near power.
While I have no outstanding objections to the design of this phase of the development, I am unhappy with the overall plans for the BRS. In my opinion, the proposed blocks of housing and commercial property are individually acceptable, but as a mass, could end up presenting a forbidding and oppressive appearance.
I agree that the new development should harmonise with the existing city centre Georgian architecture – but contemporary styles complementing existing buildings should not be entirely ruled out.
In addition, the proposed layout of the remainder of the BRS development lacks a focus. In my opinion it misses the chance to make a statement. We currently lack a Visitor Centre, museum, or gallery, for example, or a modern flexible central community facility to stage events. Any or all of these could be combined in a distinctive modern design, leaving for future generations an architectural statement that defines our age, rather than a Poundbury-style “Georgian theme park”.
No sight lines from the station into the town – that should have been a priority. The strategic plan for the city that was produced a few years ago which proposed key routes seems to have been ignored in favour of the gimmicky Create Streets report which is essentially a smokescreen for selling the site for the most money – ie for dense housing/commercial.
Lichfield is blessed with exceptionally well placed rail and bus stations at the moment.
This should be maintained as it is an asset for Lichfield. The timing of the pedestrian crossing is the only thing that should be fixed for the rail/bus stations, plus enhancing the pedestrian journey from there to the centre of the city which is currently disjointed.
That these statements even have to be made to LCC/LDC is frankly disgraceful.