A Burntwood campaign group has called for an urgent move to revise housing figures for the region after proposals were drawn up for a new development in Lichfield.
Lichfield District Council’s draft Core Strategy document had originally outlined a need for 8,000 new homes across the area to meet the needs of a growing population.
But a strong response from local residents could see more research carried out into housing demand, according to a spokesperson for the Burntwood Action Group (BAG).
The group claims that just 1,000 new properties could be needed in Burntwood and Hammerwich over the next 15 years.
However, in a newsletter to members BAG warned that developers could exploit the current situation to push through new developments.
A group spokesperson wrote:
“We were keen to see an early adoption of the revised Core Strategy as one of our major fears was that, while the district has no housing development strategy in place, there was a high probability that developers would try to push through plans, by appeal against council rejection if ncessary, for development on sites outside those proposed in the revised Draft Core Strategy.
“It now appears that the fear is well founded. We have been informed that Miller Homes Ltd are undertaking a public consultation exercise regarding proposals for a development of 850 homes on a 26 hectare site in Streethay with associated community facilities, shops, primary school, leisure centre and public open space.
“The site had been identified as one with potential for development but was not chosen for inclusion in the draft Core Strategy. The company has indicated that they will be making a planning application shortly. Should the council decide to refuse the application on the grounds that it is premature the developer may seek to secure permission by way of a planning appeal in advance of the council finalising the housing numbers required and the preferred locations.
“This situation reinforces our view that there is an urgent need for an up-to-date approved Core Strategy to be in place to ensure that site selection is part of the formal planning process and not decided ad hoc on appeal. We appeal to council members and officials to conduct a speedy review of the projected number of new homes required and move with all haste towards adoption of a Core Strategy which is acceptable to the majority of the district’s residents.”
The Foden Park development in the Streethay area of Lichfield has already met with opposition from local residents.
A local action group has claimed the plans would be “a disaster that will blight our area and take decades to remedy”.
