The council has launched the website www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/birminghamroad to keep residents and stakeholders up to date on plans for the development of the Birmingham Road Site.
The Birmingham Road Site, the location of the former Friarsgate scheme, is on the southern edge of Lichfield city centre. The council has put together a cross-party working group to oversee the drawing up plans for the longer-term re-development of the site, which includes the former police station, bus station, former Tempest Ford garage and showroom.
Councillor Mike Wilcox, Leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “Our aim is to provide a sustainable development that complements our changing and evolving city. We will incorporate the views of stakeholders, partners, businesses and residents in our plans and look forward to gathering ideas and feedback at future consultation events.”
While the longer-term plans are being worked on, the council is also putting together a short-term plan to improve the look and feel of the area, which it aims to deliver by this autumn.
On the website, the council sets out its short-term ambition to demolish the former police station and bus station buildings, including the public toilets, to make way for an extension to the bus station to provide extra short-term bus and coach parking spaces alongside re-configured car parking provision. There are also plans to landscape the area to make it more attractive and to install temporary toilet facilities.
“We know from feedback local people want us to improve the site in the short-term, while we work on plans for a longer-term development that is both deliverable and sustainable,” continued Cllr Wilcox.
“Going forward it’s vital that local people and stakeholders feed into our longer-term vision of the site and we look forward to hearing your ideas. We know that our plans must reflect the lifestyle and needs of our local community, be realistic and deliverable, encourage people to stay in our city and district, enhance the public realm and provide an economic benefit through more jobs and investment opportunities,” he added.