Lichfield’s £900k shop front scheme survives ‘call-in’ challenge

The decision to implement a new design code and grant scheme to improve city centre businesses has been allowed to stand, following a special scrutiny meeting at Lichfield Council.

Council leaders approved plans to spend £900,000 on the scheme, which aims to restore shop fronts to their “authentic early period heritage appearance”.

The design code, which will form part of future planning rules, needs to be completed by the end of June.

Councillors were told that the document is 95 per cent complete and just a few tweaks need to be made.

A recent consultation on the design code received 153 responses from a mix of businesses and residents.

So far, only 10 were not supportive of the scheme and 11 businesses have already been in touch about how to participate in the scheme.

However, the decision to develop the design code and introduction of the grant scheme was called in by opposition leader, Councillor Sue Woodward.

She claimed that more scrutiny and clarification was needed.

During the meeting councillors also raised concerns over the limited number of decision makers on the panel and the lack of expertise in heritage.

However, councillors were told that the decision panel members have been expanded and applications will be reviewed by council officers along with a heritage statement to inform decision making.

Councillor Ann Hughes said the design code needed to be “a menu of possibilities” not just an authentic early period heritage.

She said: “It seemed to me that the design code was almost ready and it was very good indeed but it’s very good indeed in a way that actually, I think, makes it hard to apply very straightforwardly to any individual shop front in the city.

“An historic city develops gradually over time and almost any listed building or building in the conservation area has elements of different periods.”

Councillor Paul Taylor also wanted to know what, or even if, protections were in place for businesses leasing property to stop rent increasing after work had been completed.

He said: “What protections are there to stop a landlord from coming to us for £30,000 worth of grant money and then because the shop front looks a little better bumping up the rent?”

Members of the overview and scrutiny committee were told that the decision is set to return to council leaders for further discussions and approval before final sign off later this year.

Opposition leader, Councillor Woodward said: “Members of the committee are not against the proposal, it’s about some of the detail and implementation.

“I think collegiate working is the best way forward and it always has been the case since this council was first elected; that big issues will come to scrutiny first to prevent the need for call in.

“I think this was so egregious, that’s why I decided to go for the call in but I hope that lots of areas have been aired, that you will take on board some of the suggestions that we put forward.”