FAILING to use land in the city centre for housing would risk new homes needing to built on local green space, the leader of Lichfield District Council has said.
Cllr Doug Pullen made his comments at a meeting of the local authority after the Liberal Democrats raised concerns about the proposals for the Birmingham Road Site.
The redevelopment of the plot where Tempest Ford once stood will see the creation of the new Lichfield Gateway scheme.
Developer CB Collier said the proposals would “deliver contemporary homes, green spaces, and amenities that respect Lichfield’s heritage while supporting its future growth”.
But Cllr Paul Ray, leader of the Liberal Democrats at the district council, said that local people were concerned by housing on the plot.
“The recent conversations I’ve had with residents have shown that they do not like the plans and find them unimaginative with too much housing and no solution for the bus station.
“As we go forward, will the leader listen to residents and be open minded about this key development in the middle of our city?”
Cllr Pullen said thousands of residents had already helped draw up the proposals – and warned that moving housing from the Birmingham Road Site would simply push it elsewhere in the district.
“I find it astonishing that a design code put together by thousands of residents can now be slated by Cllr Ray.
“Create Streets, an internationally-renowned not-for-profit organisation, helped develop the design code after being brought in.
“Frankly, we have a brownfield site opposite a train station on the main entrance to Lichfield. Leaving that open as green space means we will have to build houses elsewhere on green open space.
“We’ve already got green open space in the city, so why would we not take time and energy we have already to consult with residents, come up with a design code and then build – within a tolerance – as many houses as we can on that site to ensure people who want to live in the city centre and be close to the train station can do so?
“I reject any claim it’s unimaginative. Residents will not see blocks of buildings.
“Of course, I will remain open-minded. We want a mixed-use site, but let’s not underplay the work that’s been undertaken already.”
Labour group leader, Cllr Sue Woodward, also said the redevelopment of the plot would have wider benefits.
She told the meeting:
“I’m old enough to remember when Cllr Ray was promoting housing on the Birmingham Road Site, but he seems to have changed his mind.
“I want to see this development so we can realise the capital value of the site in order to fund improvements across the district.”
LDC have got themselves into a big mess. What about a basic like car parking? [at reasonable cost] How can people easily get to the shops? Bus station? Toilets? etc. We do not need more housing in City Centre, & the reason that it will have to go elswhere is “spurious”. There are always options.
“FAILING to use land in the city centre for housing would risk new homes needing to built on local green space, the leader of Lichfield District Council has said.”
Thats a laugh ? Look at Cricket Lane as an example they have allowed houses on this green space and Watery Lane? We all know and have little trust in the council they build on this site and simply carry on building on green spaces. I’d love to see the 1000’s of views saying build houses on this site !!! I don’t know a single person who wants houses on here ?
Complete disgrace and the council are NOT representing the community in any shape or form.
Failed Friars Gate rears its Ugly Head again.
The Decade fast approaching and still Nothing it remains a Total Eyesore on the so called Gateway to Lichfield . What a total Fiasco
Rubbish ! We’ve got plenty of houses being built in and around Lichfield, hundreds down Watery lane , more in streethay , hundreds off cricket lane , they are still building houses along the London road bypass , it’s never ending !
This is just about money ( council tax ) , green space is good for the environment and wellbeing or don’t you care about that , and as for the bus station, the best place for it is where it is!
Don’t try to make people feel guilty with your ” we will have to build elsewhere if we don’t build here” comment , your already doing that and no doubt will continue to do that.
No houses on this site , Green space and leave the bus station alone.!
I’m struggling to figure out who is the more incompetent out of Pullen and Woodward and it’s a tough one. I wish they would stop playing political suicide by getting rid of a perfectly well positioned bus station amongst some of the other ridiculous ideas that they have dreampt up. They should take note of the brainless buffoons of Cannock Chase DC a few miles down the road and see how they have completely destroyed Cannock town centre forever with their equally unnecessary mistakes.
But we do not need any more homes in Lichfield enough is enough
This should be voted on by the people of Lichfield ? Such a major decision and since it affects us all we should all have our opinions heard.
Mr Pullen is driven by greed over green spaces, once it’s gone it’s gone theres no going back.
I too would like to see hard evidence of the “1000s” who have said they agree to properties being build on that horrendous junction. It will be a disaster. Totally inappropriate for the area.
Doug is quite right, wanting more green space just because we already have some elsewhere is being greedy. Having endless development and concrete makes everyone happy /s
I must agree, this is a much better place for housing than green fields a mile or more away from any shops or other basic facilities. A location where people can actually walk to shops and restaurants and the train station, rather than being forced to drive everywhere. I’d much rather live in an apartment on this site rather than a little box made of ticky tacky on the periphery of Streethay!
I don’t care what gets built on the site anything is better than what’s there at the moment. Who cares if houses are built there? What is the problem?
I thought that Councillor’s, like MPs, were elected to represent the views of their constituents. My local Councillor hasn’t asked me for my views on these proposals. I wonder why? It was the same situation when our MP was involved with the debate on assisted dying, again, my views were not sought. As stated above, let’s see the ‘evidence’ of these thousands of people in favour please.
Cllr Pullen says “thousands of residents” have already “helped draw up the proposals”, but what can he mean by “helped”? My impression (mainly from Lichfield Live) is that the vast majority do not want what is being proposed. Does voicing objections count as “helping”, even if the proposals end up being what nobody wants?
If neither Tory nor Labour councillors are listening to residents, can it be a surprise that they are starting to vote for other parties? Only the Greens and LibDems appear to be listening.
When will this madness stop Lichfield is one big building site old Lichfield will be lost forever leading to all the issues that big cities have it’s a crying shame whats happening !
If we do need these 1000’s of new houses in Lichfield, would it not be advantageous to the public if the infrastructure in and around Lichfield was completed first!
The artist impression of the junction is misleading and false. It’s one of the most congested junctions in the county.
Jolly Roger is mistaken: all MPs, including our own are elected on this basis, “Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgement; and he betrays you instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion.” The theory is that if we don’t like his judgement we vote for someone else.
But, this notion goes back to speech by an Irish MP in 1774.
A time when no women had the vote and 20% of men did.
Cities such as Birmingham and Manchester had no MPs.
We elect our MPs on the basis of this.
I think it might be time to move on the 21st Century.
I think we should open a brand new car showroom on the site, Smug should cut the ribbon…
Your previous contributor is quite right, the artist’s impression gives a false picture of the now obsolete traffic lights on this busy junction, which is a hazard for any pedestrian trying to cross. I’d also like to comment on the ‘Georgian lite’ design of the proposed buildings. It’s a shame that just as the developers want to foist ‘mock’ Georgian on the community, just round the corner on St John’s Street a real original Georgian mansion is being allowed to fall to wrack and ruin, surely that should be saved and the Tempest site be turned over to green space for all to enjoy.
‘Failing to build one place would risk buildings going up somewhere else’ doesn’t make much sense. But apart from that, the plot doesn’t have much room for freehold houses, and since the grenfell scandal there’s a risk building leasehold flats that may require remedial works at the drop of a hat as/when regulations change. It makes more sense to me to have an attractive space that invites people in as soon as they arrive on the train. At the same time, there are abandoned properties behind the station on upper st johns crying out for conversion…
The only time the Council listened to the residents was when the Leisure Centre was going to disappear, and people pressure was bought on the Council to change their approach and then they put it in the wrong place, it would have benefited more residents if it had been in the City Centre.
It now appears against a majority of residents / bus users opinion that the Bus / Coach Station is due to be found a new location? but where is better than its current location, again its time the Council listened to the people that use these facilties, talking of which, what a poor excuse for a public convenance we have.What our visitors must think of Lichfield when they have to queue in all weathers to use, when they arrive by train, bus, or coach to see our wonderfull City!!!
So come on Doug, listen to the people that put you and the remainder of the councillers in the position you are all in
I’ve noticed the former Friary school being converted to “Luxury Apartments” same as Marlborough House (spelt right?) down St John Street: then I keep reading re. The needs for “affordable housing in the area” don’t we have enough “Luxury apartments” in Lichfield?? None of it makes sense! & How do you classify “affordable homes” anyway? Can anyone enlighten me??