Burntwood Action Group

Result of public consultation autumn 2010

• There were about 4000 responses from individual Lichfield District residents. Almost 2000 were returned by us from Burntwood & Hammerwich residents.

• The responses returned by us were virtually unanimous in supporting proposed development on brownfield sites in Burntwood.

• Many responses from Lichfield residents objected to the 8000 new homes proposed as they considered it to be far greater than the number required and could change the character of the City.

• Because of the number of responses Lichfield District Council is commissioning a review of the projected population growth in the District. The outcome of this research may provide evidence for a change in the number of new dwellings required from the 8000 currently proposed.

Our current position:

• Whilst welcoming the review of the number of new homes required and the possible reduction from the 8000 previously proposed, we are concerned that it could lead to a lengthy delay in putting a revised Local Development Framework in place.

• We are worried that, whilst without a local development framework in place, developers could try to push through plans for development on sites outside those proposed in the revised Draft Core Strategy.

Recent developments endorse our concerns:

Miller Homes Ltd is 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 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 try to gain permission through appeal in advance of the Council finalising the housing numbers required and the preferred locations.

Meeting of our representatives with the Leader and Chief Planning Officer of Lichfield District Council:

We requested this meeting to voice our concerns over the delay in finalising the Core strategy and to try to ascertain the time scale leading to the implementation of a revised Local Development Framework.

The Leader and Chief Planning Officer of the Council were pleased to meet with our representatives and we are grateful to them for giving up their time and engaging in an open and frank discussion.

Proposed time scale:      Early Autumn 2011          Review of number of homes required will be completed.

November 2011                Revised Core Strategy published.

Winter 2011                        Councillors work towards ratification of revised Core Strategy.

January 2012                      6 week public consultation on revised Core Strategy.

Spring 2012                         Finalised plans, submitted to Government Inspector.

Summer 2012                    If approved, implementation of revised Core Strategy.

A united front for Burntwood

For some time we have been working in close cooperation with Burntwood & Hammerwich Action Group.

We were concerned that our support of plans for housing development on the disused land bordered by the Burntwood Bypass and Milestone Way could have led to antagonism between our Groups and residents of Chasetown.

The planned housing on that site goes beyond what we had expected onto Council owned land at the end of Church Street and we are very sympathetic of residents’ fears that they will lose a green amenity.

We are delighted that representatives of Chasetown residents accepted our invitation to meet with the Chairman of Burntwood & Hammerwich Action Group and our Chairman on 31^st August. After a most amicable meeting there was complete unanimity in:

• opposing any development on the Council owned green land at the end of Church Street
• supporting plans for housing on the previously designated industrial land northwards to Milestone Way.
• agreeing to ask planners to provide an entry to that development from the Burntwood Bypass and opposing any proposal for vehicular access from the Chasetown side.
• seeking a meeting between representatives of our three groups and Lichfield District’s Chief planning Officer to demonstrate our unanimity on the above three points.

Government plans for changes to planning regulations:

Click here to read a report from the real estate consultancy company, DTZ on these proposed changes.

Whilst the proposed changes to legislation appear to offer some protection for the country’s green belt, the proposal that “YES” should be local authorities’ default answer to planning applications is profoundly worrying. The report endorses our view that councils need to have a robust Local Development Framework in place at the earliest opportunity.