Divide over £95m complex

Modern buildings are to take up residence in Lichfield alongside landmarks such as the Cathedral and the Tudor Cafe as the city assumes a new look.

These will include a cinema, hotel, Debenhams department store and 37 new shops. But opinion is divided over whether the new Friarsgate will enhance the cathedral city or ruin its charming market town image.

It is estimated that the development will attract 11,000 more visitors to the city every month. And it is thought it will bring in annual sales of more than £61 million from the shops alone.

But some feel visitors will be deterred from visiting the city which the area's MP Michael Fabricant fears may end up looking like the Bullring in Birmingham. Liberal democrat councillor for Lichfield, Derek Love said people visit Lichfield for the "charming" atmosphere, not the shops.

"The development is too flashy and modernistic, reminiscent of a new town like Milton Keynes," he said.

"I am told that a place such as Cheltenham is a good example to emulate, where the new development is in sympathy with the character of the historic town. The same should apply to Lichfield.

"It needs to be scaled down in size and height, with fewer shops, more open spaces for flowering bushes and flower gardens and maybe a space for outdoor entertainment and live music."

Planning permission has been granted for the development and the Secretary of State recently decided not to call the application in. The development, which will create around 1,500 jobs, is being built on a 8.15-acre site between Frog Lane and Birmingham Road. The scheme will also provide five restaurants or bars, 56 apartments, three office units, a 748-space car park over two levels and public areas.

Lichfield Chamber of Trade and Commerce president Richard Lewis welcomes development of the area, providing it is in scale with the rest of the city. "I think everyone is agreed that what is there now is not a good reflection of Lichfield," he said.

"When you come off the trains at one of the gateways to the city you are met with a bus station, a car sales premises and a multi-storey car park which is less than attractive. So anything that improves what is there now has got to be good. The division of opinion is that maybe the scale of the development will harm trade in the rest of the city, particularly parts away from that area like Market Street, Dam Street and Bird Street.

"I don't know if there is enough people in Lichfield to support that size of development, it is half as much again as we have now."

Traders are divided over the new scheme. Mr Lewis said: "A lot of people are afraid it is going to damage trade but they are probably the same people who would fight against any change. But there are those who would say we have waited for this for 20 years, let's go for it. There are two distinct camps, one who will fight it to the bitter end and one taking the opposite view."

Mr Lewis said some businesses, particularly high street names, will move away from the existing city centre into the new development leaving lots of empty shops which may become more restaurants and cafes. Work is expected to start this year and be completed in 2010.