Lichfield District 2050 strategy

We will enable Lichfield, Burntwood and our villages to flourish

A prosperous community is one with economic wellbeing, where traditional and new business sectors succeed side by side and where innovation is commonplace andimproves opportunity for all people and all areas of a place.

We want Lichfield District to be recognised as a place where business succeeds, for our entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive and for our local workforce to share in the wealth they generate.

Whilst we know our average household income in the district is high compared to other parts of the UK, we also recognise that economic inequality is not just a regional issue, it occurs between neighbourhoods. Some of our neighbourhoods are amongst the most income deprived in England, and in 2019, 8.4% of the local population was identified as income deprived.

We want to ensure the district has a diverse and resilient economy, providing a range of varied job opportunities and progression for our residents. We want to ensure that we have a vibrant economy that supports our young people to have the very best start in life. We want to make sure our residents, both young and old, can thrive in the district and achieve the aspirations they have for themselves and their families.

Key to creating prosperous communities is connectivity, both digital and physical connectivity for our urban and rural communities. We will work with partners to look at how we can better connect our places, challenging public transport providers and partners who look after our roads to do better for our district, and maximise opportunities for active travel.

We want to be the place to set up and grow a business successfully, to provide an environment where our natural entrepreneurs and micro-businesses flourish and are enabled to grow at a pace which is safe for them. We will work with private and public sector partners to invest in new units to help businesses grow sustainably and encourage more sustainable rental rates. Our ambitious new Local Plan will clearly define employment land opportunities across the district.

It is vital we continue to enhance the vibrancy of our town centres, rural communities and the city centre and further improve their local and national reputations as great places to work, live and visit. In the ‘Together We’ consultation you told us what you wanted to see more in the district, 26% of respondents wanted to see more retail space, 17% wanted to see more leisure options and 15% wanted to see more creative spaces.

By 2050 we will be a district where:

• Investment in regeneration creates sustainable, vibrant high streets in Lichfield city centre and Burntwood
• Infrastructure to support business growth programmes and provide incentives is making a difference
• Economically active people, including younger people, are attracted, and retained through targeted incentives
• Current key sectors have been nurtured to grow through investment and support that benefit local employment
• There are a range of transport options in place that help to connect our places
• Individuals' business-ready skills, knowledge and experiences are improved to enable sustainability of new enterprises
• Investment from new markets and sectors has been attracted (e.g., digital, technology, knowledge, data, and green economies) into our district, creating new employment opportunities
• Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure providers are supported to be attractive career choices for people
• Training providers and statutory bodies are challenged to provide the skills local business needs so they can recruit locally
• Public sector partners are encouraged to utilise the social value levers they have available to them
• Ultimately, we will have improved the prosperity of our residents, by increasing skills levels and access to better jobs.

Key milestones - by 2028 we will:

• Be concluding delivery of the targeted Action Plan for Burntwood
• Have delivered temporary ‘Meanwhile’ activities on the Birmingham Road Site, including vibrant new incubator retail, office, food and beverage space alongside outdoor theatre and cinema
• Successfully have used the new cinema for Lichfield city centre, including food and beverage space, as a catalyst to regenerate the whole Birmingham Road Site
• Enjoy a vibrant, young, new residential zone on the Birmingham Road Site, with public open space as places people choose to gather
• Have supported delivery of infrastructure such as GP, schools, and roads, to be in place to meet our growing needs
• Worked with public transport providers to improve the offer across the district

Key milestones - by 2038 we will:

• Have opened up Market Street / Bird Street Car Park to new retail outlets and views of the Minster Pool and Cathedral
• Have fully delivered Burntwood regeneration.