PROPOSALS to change the timetable for delivering a new Local Plan have been debated by councillors.
Lichfield District Council's leaders have given the green light to changes which will see a new document approved in 2029 instead of 2027.
The Local Plan, if approved, will guide all development across the district until 2040 in order to build 15,666 new homes after the Government increased the housing targets from 289 homes per year to 746 homes per year.
Concerns were raised by Labour opposition leader Cllr Russ Bragger, who questioned why it was not possible to complete the plan under the current timeline given the fact that the council will no longer exist when the document is set to be completed due to local government reorganisation.
Cllr Alex Farrell, cabinet member for housing and the Local Plan, said:
"When I became portfolio holder, the first thing that was evident to me was the Local Plan that was put together before just wasn’t fit for purpose.
"It wasn’t really what Lichfield residents wanted. It contained lots of urban sprawl, places around our district were given big housing developments in the plan which residents didn’t want.
"It didn’t have the infrastructure that was required for these developments. So we decided to start again and put together a Local Plan that was more fit for purpose, more fit for our residents.
"All was going well. Originally, when we did our issues and options document at the end of 2023, we were planning for 6,000 dwellings across the district, but then the Government increased, not just our target but many councils’ housing targets. That 6,000 went to 15,000.
"So all of a sudden you’ve got a completely different playing field there really when it comes to houses. We’ve tried our best to go by the evidence that was given to us from residents, which was largely that they wanted a new approach to housing, a new spatial strategy, looking at new settlements as opposed to urban sprawl."
He explained to the overview and scrutiny committee that the deadline to get the current Local Plan completed would have been the end of December this year – and that the Government denied an extension.
Cllr Farrell continued:
"To find a new settlement for 6,000 is much easier than finding a new settlement for 15,000. When those new figures came out we realised that maybe it wasn’t even two new settlements, but possibly three.
"The officers diligently did the work to make those assessments of where those new settlements would be and we did earmark three potential places. The problem is the evidence needed to put together a new settlement is really quite extensive.
"We’re in a position now where if we are going to go down a new settlement route and get it delivered by the end of this year, it’s just not possible because the evidence base hasn’t come in yet for those three.
"So this is why we’re in a position now where we’re moving to a new 30-month system."
It was explained to councillors that the introduction of grey belt had forced the council to commission a new report for the Local Plan, which took more than a year to produce and created more work, for a "small change", according to Cllr Martyn Punyer.
Under the new timeline, the document would be completed after local government reorganisation is complete, with Lichfield District Council set to be abolished in 2028.
Labour's Cllr Paul Taylor said:
"A new unitary would be required to carry on with an existing Local Plan, but that’s very different from a new unitary being required to complete a Local Plan which isn’t in existence.
"A report to cabinet said the new plan’s budget would be lower, but actually taking this option would have a higher total cost.
"I’m assuming that’s because if you compare the old consultation with the new consultation the new one is cheaper, but because we’ve got to start that again, the total cost is more? So we’re asking our residents to pay more for a Local Plan that may or may not be continued to completion by a new unitary."
