The big planning debate Get involved now! www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/bigplanningdebate Every council needs a planning framework that explains where and what type of developments can take place in the future. We're developing ours at the moment. We need your views to make sure our plans for how the district could be shaped in the future are right. Get involved now, and help us to decide where new developments will improve our district.
Thousands of you have already given your views on our draft plans - but thousands of you haven’t, and we don’t want you to miss out. Since we last asked for your views, in 2008's winter edition of intouch, we’ve updated our plans in line with your comments. We now need your views again to find out whether the plans, explained on the next three pages, are right for our district.
We want to know… W Are we aware of important local issues from transport and facilities for young people, to affordable homes?
Give us your views… At one of our exhibitions Burntwood Leisure Centre
Guildhall, Bore Street, Lichfield
Saturday 11 December, 10am-2pm
Saturday 18 December, 10am-2pm
Tuesday 11 January, 10am-2pm
Tuesday 21 December, 10am-2pm
Thursday 13 January, 4pm-8pm
Monday 10 January, 4pm-8pm
Rural exhibitions We'll also host some events in local villages. Call us and we’ll send you details, or watch for dates online.
W Will our plans for shops, office space, and leisure facilities improve the district and meet local people’s needs?
We've developed a simple summary and a broad range of questions. Answer the questions online at www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/bigplanningdebate
W Have we identified good
Write to us
areas for new housing? W Are we suggesting
too many new houses, or not enough?
Answer our questions online
If you want to send in more detailed comments, write to: Planning Policy Manager, Development Services, Lichfield District Council, Frog Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6YZ
www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/bigplanningdebate or call 01543 308192/308148 or visit our reception in Frog Lane, Lichfield
The big planning debate
What’s planned for your area The next three pages are a brief summary of the plans, detailed in our Core Strategy, and what we need your views on. If you want to read our detailed plans visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/bigplanningdebate or pop into our Frog Lane reception in Lichfield.
1
BURNTWOOD
W Our Core Strategy document is part of our newly
emerging Local Development Framework, which we hope to adopt in spring 2012. It sets out how our district could be developed between now and 2026. www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/corestrategy
Burntwood and surrounding areas Our plans so far… for housing · Around 1,000 new homes could be built in and around Burntwood between now and 2026. · We’ve already found possible sites for 550 of these new homes in built up areas - including some on Mount Road Industrial Estate. We’re no longer looking at Hammerwich parish for large scale housing development. · Up to 425 new homes could be built on land opposite Burntwood Rugby Club (see map 1) , between Milestone Way and Church Street, Chasetown. Some homes could be built between Chasewater and Brownhills in part of the Green Belt. · Where new homes are built, the areas will benefit from new or improved local services and facilities, which would be agreed as part of the planning process. · Homes will be developed - including affordable and specialist housing - to meet the needs of first time buyers, families and the elderly.
for shoppers · The town centre will be further developed to meet local people’s shopping, leisure and entertainment needs - with up to 16,000 square metres of retail (that’s about the size of three Morrisons).
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for businesses · Employment areas, such as Burntwood Business Park, will be enhanced with new employment land, redevelopment and modernisation. Up to 5,000 square metres of office space will be developed in the town centre.
for visitors, commuters and local people
What we need to address… W More local facilities are needed to complement the planned improvements to the town centre.
· Public transport, walking and cycling routes will be improved.
W Burntwood has some areas that need environmental improvements such as new street furniture and more trees.
· The quality of local open spaces will be improved, and more need to be created.
W There aren’t enough local jobs for local people, and a lot of people commute out of the area for work.
· The heathland Sites of Special Scientific Interest will be looked after for future generations.
W There are not enough facilities for young people.
· Facilities and attractions at Chasewater Country Park will be improved.
Park is enjoyed by many, it is not achieving its full potential, and it is difficult to get to.
W Although Chasewater Country
www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/bigplanningdebate or call 01543 308192/308148 or visit our reception in Frog Lane, Lichfield
The big planning debate
Lichfield City centre and surrounding areas
2 STREETHAY
Our plans so far… for housing · Around 2,500 new homes (including apartments or houses) could be built in and around Lichfield City between now and 2026.
· Up to 30,000 square metres of office space could be developed in the city centre. This will help to strengthen and promote Lichfield's role as a centre · We've already found possible for business. sites for 1,200 of these new homes in built up areas · Employment areas, such for example where we've as Britannia Park, will be granted planning permission maintained with some on unused land. redevelopment and modernisation. · Up to 850 new homes could be developed at Streethay for shoppers (see map 2) and up to 550 · Up to 35,000 square metres new homes could be built of shops (that’s about the south of Lichfield (see map 3) size of 12 TJ Hughes) will be - this now means no loss of developed in the city centre. local Green Belt land. This includes the new · Where new homes are built, Friarsgate development. the areas will benefit from new shops, leisure and recreational facilities, which would be agreed as part of the planning process.
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3
SOUTH LICHFIELD
for businesses
· New small scale shopping, leisure facilities and hotels could be built in the city, in areas such as Bird Street.
· Homes will be developed for visitors including affordable and and commuters specialist housing - to meet the needs of first time buyers, · We will campaign for Trent Valley Station to be families and the elderly. modernised to include · The plans for the high better disabled access and speed rail link (HS2) have not more parking. been published yet, but we have considered it as part of our plans.
· Lichfield Southern Bypass will be completed.
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What we need to address… W We need to protect the
W Lichfield City is a popular
character of the city from the pressure of large scale development.
destination for day trippers, but not enough visitors stay overnight or for longer.
W Lichfield City needs to
W Transport movement
provide quality shopping, employment and services for local people, and attract people from further afield.
and accessibility is an issue. W There are not enough things for young people to do.
www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/bigplanningdebate or call 01543 308192/308148 or visit our reception in Frog Lane, Lichfield
The big planning debate
Rural villages and hamlets
4
FRADLEY
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5
RUGELEY
Our plans so far… for housing · Around 2,340 new homes could be built in rural areas up until 2026 (that’s 30% of the district’s total housing target). Sites for 940 of these have already been found. · Where clusters of new houses are developed, they will meet local need and will most likely take place in larger villages, with improved access to local services, such as shops, public transport and leisure facilities. · Up to 1,000 new homes (see map 4) could be built around Fradley, mainly on brownfield land, such as the old airfield, but not up to the scale of a new settlement. · Large scale housing development will not take place in our smaller villages. · By expanding some of our larger villages, people living in smaller villages and hamlets will be able to use the services and facilities developed. · 680 homes are being developed near Rugeley Power Station, and up to an
extra 450 homes (see map 5) could be developed on the nearby Borrow Pit site.
for rural businesses · New communications services, such as broadband and telecommunications, that will allow business and people working from home to function better, will be supported. · New small employment sites could be developed in larger villages to support new rural enterprises and existing rural businesses. · The district’s landscape and its biodiversity will continue to be enhanced and protected in a way that is sensitive to the needs of farmers, businesses, visitors and residents.
for communities · Where clusters of new houses are developed in larger settlements, new services and community facilities will be negotiated as part of the planning process.
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for visitors, commuters and local people · Improving rural public transport is vital. · We want to improve access to services, public transport, local employment and housing in rural areas, while maintaining their character. · All new development will work to protect the district’s landscape and biodiversity, in particular Cannock Chase, the National Forest and local rivers. We will encourage energy efficient developments wherever possible.
What we need to address… W Rural amenities, such as shops, post offices, doctors and pubs, are declining. W Many rural areas are not well served by public transport, which makes it difficult for people to access services and facilities. W There’s not enough
affordable housing in our villages and rural areas. W People want us to help rural villages adapt.
www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/bigplanningdebate or call 01543 308192/308148 or visit our reception in Frog Lane, Lichfield