Almost 2,000 protest at homes on Green Belt land

The houses are planned for land near Highfields Road in Burntwood, with the group urging the council to favour plans to build on brownfield sites in the area instead.

The Burntwood and Hammerwich Action Group handed 1,963 letters to the Spatial Policy and Delivery Department at Lichfield District Council.

Prior to that, the voluntary group had canvassed door-to-door every house in the parish, asking residents to sign and address the protest letter with 1,963 participating, with only four refusing, according to the group.

Dave King, from the Burntwood and Hammerwich Action Group, said: “The plan to build 250 houses on land south of Highfields Road is once again the easy option. It shows no initiative or lateral thinking and disrespects Burntwood, again.

Mr King called on the council to look into using brownfield sites instead. He added: “Enough is enough for Burntwood, we want a better Burntwood, not a bigger Burntwood.

“There are exciting opportunities in utilising Brownfield sites in Burntwood.

“The Burntwood Action Group have been working closely with land owners, business owners, retailers, schools and health centres to put together an ambitious plan to finally re-develop the Burntwood Town Centre at Sankey’s Corner, taking the opportunity to include starter homes and apartments so greatly needed in the town.”

Michael Fabricant, who is campaigning to hold his seat in the Lichfield constituency in the upcoming general election, said after meeting the group he was impressed with their plans.

He added: “I was very impressed with their holistic approach for the area taking into account housing needs, the need to preserve Green Belt, the use brownfield sites wherever possible, and the creation of a new shopping heart for Burntwood.

“Being a merged conurbation of four towns, it has resulted in the area lacking a commercial heart and town centre. Sankey’s Corner is the nearest thing to it, but it looks tired and run down.

“The district council have exciting plans for Burntwood, but it will still result in dispersed shopping areas.

“The action groups’ plans involve land swaps which could result in the redevelopment of Sankey’s Corner as a major new shopping heart combined with a new road which would enable the part of Cannock Road by the shopping area to be pedestrianised.

“In turn this would provide a link with the current commercial development planned immediately south of Cannock Road.

“Their plans also involve moving the health centre for housing redevelopment and moving it closer to Morrisons. Most of the additional housing required for Burntwood would be provided on existing and disused industrial land.”

“I know that Burntwood Town Council are broadly in favour of these proposals. I will be speaking with the district council to determine whether these changes can be considered seriously and perhaps adopted.

“Burntwood needs a proper town centre and a shopping focus. These plans could deliver it.”

Craig Jordan, Head of Economic Growth at Lichfield District Council, said: “We have come to the end of the consultation on our Local Plan Allocations document and welcome all the responses we’ve had in and will be reviewing them.”