The Lichfield District Council Planning Committee convened to discuss several planning applications and updates. The meeting included a review of planning applications, a committee appeal update, and a performance update. Members were scheduled to consider applications for developments in Alrewas, Lichfield, and Tamworth.

Planning Applications

The committee was scheduled to review and discuss several planning applications.

Land Rear of 156 Main Street, Alrewas

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for the erection of a four-bedroom detached dwelling and detached double garage with associated works at land to the rear of 156 Main Street, Alrewas. The application was recommended for approval with conditions, despite objections from Alrewas Parish Council regarding drainage, scale, design, and impact on the conservation area¹ and neighbouring amenity. The application site sits within the Alrewas Conservation Area, and near Grade II listed buildings 115 Main Street and 158 Main Street. The applicant was named in the report pack as Dr Robert Horton, and the agent as Mr Stewart Jackson. The report pack noted that the council's conservation and urban design team had initially objected to the proposal, stating:

It is considered that the layout, scale and architectural design is inappropriate for this historic garden location and would fail to protect the character and grain of development in this part of the Conservation Area to the detriment of its special character and appearance.

The council's tree officer had also initially objected, but later withdrew their objection. The Ecology Team were satisfied with the content, scope and recommendations made in submitted reports, and required a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain² as a result of this development.

Land at Cricket Lane, Lichfield

The committee was scheduled to consider a Section 73 application to vary condition 36 of permission 18/01217/OUTFLM, concerning highways improvements to the Swinfen Island Junction. The application sought to amend the trigger for the delivery of infrastructure works. The original condition stated that the highway improvement works should be implemented before the first occupation or use of any buildings within any phase of the development. The amendment proposed changing the trigger point to prior to the first occupation of the 130th residential dwelling approved, or the occupation of 18,157sqm or greater employment floorspace approved, whichever is sooner.

The application was recommended for approval with conditions, despite objections from Lichfield City Council. The applicant was named in the report pack as Persimmon Homes West Midlands & Indurent Strategic Land Ltd.

The report pack stated that the applicant could not undertake the Swinfen Island Junction works, as these would be carried out by the contractor Amey and National Highways. The junction improvement works were scheduled to commence in January 2025 and have an estimated duration of c. 89 weeks.

The report pack noted that the original application calculated the impact of the development based on 2018 traffic survey data and modelling, and that the applicant had undertaken a new traffic survey in 2025, which demonstrates a significantly lower figure than the 2018 assessment's projected figures for 2026.

National Highways had initially requested a deferral to allow for the submission of additional information, but later removed their objection. Staffordshire County Council Highways also initially objected, but later removed their objection after reviewing additional information.

Arkall Farm, Ashby Road, Tamworth

The committee was scheduled to consider a Section 73 application to remove conditions 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 30 and vary condition 29 of permission 14/00516/OUTMEI relating to the Monitor and Manage Mitigation Strategy. The application was recommended for approval with conditions, despite objections from Wigginton and Hopwas Parish Council. The applicant was named in the report pack as Ms Rebecca Mitchell, and the agent as Gary Halman Land and Planning Ltd.

The report pack stated that the justification for doing this is that the contents of the revised transport statement, technical notes and highways mitigation plans broadly align with those supported by the Planning Inspector that determined the Browns Lane appeal (APP/K3415/W/24/3340089). The Browns Lane appeal allowed up to 210 dwellings on land directly adjacent to the Arkall Farm development, with traffic from this site also utilising the transport routes through Tamworth to reach more strategic roads (A5, M42 etc).

The report pack noted that the Local Highway Authority had initially objected, but later removed their objection.

Exclusion of Public and Press

The agenda included a resolution to exclude the public and press from the meeting for the following items of business, as publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, which would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

Committee Appeal Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on committee appeals, but the report pack does not provide any further information on this topic.

Committee Performance Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a performance update, but the report pack does not provide any further information on this topic.