Land order for £95m complex

Lichfield's new £95 million shopping and leisure complex has taken a further step forward after a Compulsory Purchase Order was made for the site.

Members agreed to the CPO for the Friarsgate/Birmingham Road development at last night's district council executive meeting.

Although the council owns much of the site already, the development requires additional land and access rights, so it all links to the rest of the city centre.

Councillor David Smith, leader of the council, said: "In a development of this scale, it is not unusual for the developers to ask a council to make a Compulsory Purchase Order."

It was agreed the CPO be sent by the end of this week.

The land and properties to be acquired for the development generally comprise Friarsgate Garage; part of the Council House car park; Lichfield Police Station (which is already moving to the north of the city); the bus station; open car park and land beside the multi-storey car park; electricity substation; Shop Mobility unit; Fusion Credit Union unit; the news kiosk and several other sections.

Once built the development will include a Debenhams departments store, shops, cinema and hotel.