Lichfield residents asked to have their say on future development
A four-week consultation has opened asking residents what should be considered as Lichfield District plans for future growth
Lichfield residents are being asked to have their say on how the district should grow, as work begins on a new Local Plan.
Lichfield District Council has launched its first consultation, asking residents, businesses and organisations what issues and priorities should be considered as the plan is developed.
The Local Plan will guide future development across the district, including where new homes and jobs could be provided and what infrastructure, transport, environmental measures and community facilities may be needed.
One of the biggest challenges facing the district will be housing growth. Under the Government's current national method for calculating housing need, Lichfield District needs to plan for 769 homes a year.
The council says no decisions have yet been made about where future development will take place.
Instead, the first consultation is intended to find out what matters to local people, what they believe the priorities should be and how they would like to be involved as the plan progresses.
The consultation covers homes and communities, infrastructure, jobs and the economy, high streets, transport, climate change and the natural environment.
Councillor Alex Farrell, cabinet member for housing and the Local Plan, said the process would allow the council to consider how the district should grow while taking account of local needs.
“There are national requirements we have to plan for, but there are important decisions to make locally too,” he said.
“This first consultation is our opportunity to listen to residents before we start developing the options – to understand what matters to you, what you think our priorities should be and what we need to consider as the district grows.”
The consultation will run for four weeks and closes at 5pm on October 5.
A separate Call for Sites has also opened and will remain open until the end of November. This allows landowners, agents, developers and residents to suggest land that could be considered as part of the Local Plan process.
Residents can take part in the consultation through Lichfield District Council's Local Plan website.