HUNDREDS of new homes could be built on land in Burntwood if plans are approved.
Developers have drawn up the proposals for a site at Coulter Lane Farm.
As well as 300 residential properties, the scheme would also include community and retail space, along with land which could be used for a school.
But local green belt campaigners and councillors have already urged the council to reject the scheme.
Vic Chamberlain, chair of Burntwood Action Group, said:
“Although this is an initial application, we believe that it is essential no more greenbelt land is lost to housing in Burntwood.
“Currently Burntwood has almost filled the allocated housing requirement for the area as set out in the Lichfield District Council Local Plan which extends to 2029.
“A development of 300 homes plus associated facilities and works should be rejected out of hand. On top of this, the current infrastructure – particularly narrow country lanes – is totally inadequate to accommodate any development of this size.”
A local councillor and election candidate has also said he has “serious concerns” about the proposals.
Cllr Paul Taylor, who represents the Boney Hay and Central ward at Lichfield District Council and will stand in the Lichfield Rural West division in the Staffordshire County Council election on 1st May, said:
“I’m deeply concerned about the scale of this proposed development and its potential impact on our local community.
“This proposal for 300 new homes would place enormous pressure on our already stretched local infrastructure, particularly our roads which are in a terrible state after years of Conservative neglect at county level.”
The Lichfield Rural West division borders the proposed development which sits within the Burntwood North area.
Labour’s candidate for that seat, Jane Smith, said the plans had gone further than expected.
She said:
“This proposal in the green belt has come as a complete shock to local residents.
“This is an even bigger than the one developers were pushing for previously and the traffic it will generate will destroy our quiet country lanes.”
Full list of candidates in the Lichfield Rural West division at the Staffordshire County Council elections:
- Richard Cox (Conservatives)
- David Cullen (Green)
- Janet Higgins (Reform)
- Paul Taylor (Labour)
- Ash Walters (Lib Dem)
Full list of candidates in the Burntwood North division at the Staffordshire County Council elections:
- Richard Stephenson (Conservatives)
- Andrew Clissett (Reform)
- Paul Ray (Lib Dem)
- Jane Smith (Labour)
NO.. REJECT…. Please do not take what Little Green Space we have left in Burntwood.
Not enough Infrastructure in place to Accommodate more Residents.,
Burntwood is overstretched as it is.
Good luck stopping this development but we all know what the outcome will be? They’ll appeal to the Secretary of State who will rubber stamp the deal.
As the local Conservative candidate for Lichfield Rural West Division, I’ve already made my concerns clear at a Cabinet meeting of Lichfield District Council as reported by Lichfield Live on 15th April.
This proposal is exactly why I voiced concerns at the prospect of grey belt eroding the Green Belt. As you will gather from comments from Lichfield citizens, I was too late. No! I’m not too late, there’s plenty of green belt which is clearly under pressure due to the Labour government desire to build 1.5 million homes in the next 4 years.
I have always stood to resist developing on the green belt including Coulter Lane, which is in the Division I’m seeking to be re-elected. With reference to these proposals I’d like to make it clear, I would object to any proposals that may come forward but acknowledge it is for Lichfield District Council to determine.
https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/2025/04/15/councillor-concerned-changes-to-national-planning-policy-could-hit-green-belt/
No Thank you we haven’t got enough, Doctor’s,Dentists,Schools or Shops. To support more houses.
Burntwood isn’t big enough. That also means more of our lovely country side being got rid.
Really surprised that the Labour candidates are opposing their own policy to build homes on the green belt to fulfil their manifesto commitments. Promised to build more homes at the GE now opposing more homes – could this U turn be more about trying to get votes than any principle??? I totally agree that we have had more than enough house building and that brown field sites should be built on if the Labour government keeps imposing more housing on Burntwood rather than valuable farm land.
There are many things wrong with this. Firstly, why are the council even considering this application. One of the reasons for the closure of the Strawberry Fields Coffee shop which occupied the same piece of land, was the council stating that it wasn’t suitable as it had been erected on green belt, the same green belt that they want to build 300 homes on. Wouldn’t it have been more suitable to build on the large piece of land where a new supermarket is being built in Burntwood rather than build a new supermarket between two existing supermarkets. Why hasn’t consideration been given to building houses on the large expanse of land behind Morrisons known as the Blue fence land? Then there is the question of food security. Many experts have warned of the danger of mass building on farm land/green belt that would impact our ability to produce our own food rather than rely on other nations to supply it for us. Planners cant you see? Once its gone. that’s it, its gone forever.
@Richard Stephenson – are you the Richard Stephenson that’s standing as a Conservative candidate in the upcoming election? If so, would it be good for you to follow the excellent example given by Cllr Cox in declaring your position? Otherwise people might not understand your motivation about accusing others of trying to get votes when you’d prefer those votes yourself.
Coulter Lane Farm is yet another example of how local voices are being ignored and our green belt is being sacrificed to serve the interests of developers, not our community.
Burntwood has already met its housing targets under the current Local Plan, and yet we’re being asked to give up even more of our precious countryside. This is completely unacceptable. Our narrow country lanes, overstretched health services, and limited school capacity simply cannot cope with a development of this size. Let’s be clear: this is green belt land, and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.
I stand firmly with residents, the Burntwood Action Group, and others in opposing this scheme outright. Reform UK believes in putting local people first. That means protecting green spaces, prioritising brownfield development, and ensuring any new housing is backed by proper infrastructure – not dumped on communities that are already at breaking point.
As the local councillor for the planning authority responsible for the area mentioned in this article, I would like to provide some clarity and, hopefully, some reassurance to my residents. I have been in communication with representatives of the developers, and I can confirm that there are plans to consult with the local community on the emerging proposals during May and June. This will include both an online consultation and a drop-in exhibition at the Burntwood Memorial Community Association Hall, scheduled for early June.
There has already been a major development up the road from Coulter lane. I believe they used the two lanes in the area as roads suggesting that these could carry enough traffic. One is now banned to thru traffic. Before building,someone has to build a main fast road from burntwood to Lichfield which by passes the current roads else traffic will just be backing up and gridlocked. There wasn’t the road capacity to build the st Matthews estate but still it got built and imagine what fun a new school will create.
If Andrew Clissett of Reform UK wants to be “protecting green spaces”, he’s in the wrong party.
Reform rejects established science and embraces climate change denial with policies that harm our environment, including our green spaces, rather than protecting it.
Reform does not support the sustainable farming practices that are needed to protect our farmland for the future and will remove green subsidies.
Reform will also scrap any UK legislation based on EU environmental regulations.
Reform will not protect our green spaces: it will actually cause them serious harm.
Is land on chorley road burntwood that was earmarked for development still going ahead?
I’ve grown up and lived here for nearly 55 years. I’ve seen it go from lovely quant little villages where everyone knew each other and polite and SAFE!!to well what we got now…. busy streetsand roads, loud, unsafe, dodgy, full of Drugs, loud cars, crap roads, doctors you can’t get into etc and now this more homes. Tbh along with many enough is enough! It feels like if you keep on and on then all the ones against are forced to sell up and go elsewhere so the ‘i don’t care less’ people get to come in.
@Clare sholl : Clare labours idea of sustainable farming is to impose a inheritance tax on the farmers , buy their land at below market value then build windmills and solar panels housing. Judging by the protests in Whitehall I don’t think labour will get many votes from the farmers. We all know that the Liberals and left follow the science they now want to dim the sun what could possibly go wrong , the government is set to give the experiment the go-head within weeks.