Better news on housing numbers in Lichfield District

I wrote a few weeks ago about the County Council’s decision to propose what was likely, over time, to mean a 21,000 increase in the number of houses in Lichfield District.

Now remember, currently there are about 31,000 houses in the whole of the district so the proposed near 70% increase would totally change the character of the area.

So last week I had lengthy meetings with colleagues and planners at Lichfield District Council to discuss the situation. The planners were clearly very concerned because County’s proposals, as the Strategic Planning Authority, will carry enormous weight when central Government makes the final decision on housing numbers for England later this year.

Having listened to what was said at the meetings at LDC I decided the only way forward was to arrange for our Conservative Group at County to challenge the Labour Cabinet’s decision on the housing numbers. We did so, by ‘Calling In’ the decision of Cabinet. That basically means that the County’s Corporate Policy committee looks at how the decision was made and has the power to require Cabinet to look at it again.

The Corporate Policy Committee Members met a couple of days ago. Four Labour and two Conservatives make up the committee which, as I say, can require the Cabinet to think again but has no actual power to change any decisions. It was a very interesting meeting; dare I say, enjoyable if it wasn’t such a crucial issue. It was also a ‘touchy’ meeting. The Labour leadership seem cheesed off that we, as the opposition, keep challenging their decisions.

The housing numbers decision has two principle parts to it. The overall number of houses for Staffordshire and then the concentration of extra housing in Lichfield and Tamworth. Conservatives are not against some robust but sensible housing growth for Staffordshire; it is needed to help people get on the housing ladder. But we believe that housing for Staffordshire should be spread more evenly across the County as a whole and should not threaten the very nature of any locality. The number proposed for Lichfield and Tamworth would do just that.

The upshot of the meeting was that after nearly three hours of questioning and some very heated exchanges between myself and the County Leader, Terry Dix, I was supported by Steve Norman, a Burntwood County Councillor, to force a change in the orginal County housing proposal. I’m not sure I’d describe it as a U-turn, as much of the media has, but the change in the County’s proposal to say it is ‘unacceptable’ to expect Lichfield to accommodate that amount of housing, is crucial.

A small wording change but very significant change of policy by the County. Very satisfying from a personal point of view and proof that democracy can still work. Central Government will make the final decision but it’s very unlikely they will go against the new proposal. We shall wait and see but it looks much more positive for this area than it did a month ago.

You can, however, still sign our on-line petition just to keep the pressure on…. click here for details.

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