Burntwood Braces for 300 New Homes: Residents Warn “Infrastructure Can’t Cope!”

Developers are targeting Coulter Lane and Church Road in Burntwood for a new 300-home development, sparking urgent concerns among local residents about the existing, already strained infrastructure.

Plans by Bloor Homes to build hundreds of new properties in the area have intensified fears that Burntwood’s essential services are unprepared for such a significant population increase. The four main areas of concern repeatedly voiced by the community and local action groups are:

Transportation: Residents describe local routes, including narrow country lanes around Coulter Lane and Church Road, as already struggling with current traffic levels. The addition of potentially hundreds more vehicles is a major worry, with fears of gridlock and compromised road safety.

Medication (Healthcare Access): Concerns are rife about the capacity of local GP surgeries and healthcare services to absorb new residents. “Overstretched health services” have been a recurring theme, with questions about appointment availability and the strain on existing medical facilities.

Education: While the developer has proposed setting aside land for the potential expansion of Fulfen Primary School, “limited school capacity” in the broader Burntwood area remains a significant concern for families. The impact of 300 new homes on already pressured school places is a key point of contention.

Sanitation & General Infrastructure: Beyond roads and services, residents and local councillors have highlighted broader infrastructure deficits in Burntwood compared to nearby areas. This includes worries about the adequacy of existing sanitation systems, drainage, and other essential utilities to support both the current community and a large new development.

The Burntwood Action Group (BAG) has been actively campaigning against the scale of the proposed development, citing the “unacceptable strain on infrastructure and services.” Their concerns have been echoed by local councillors, some of whom have emphasised a need for an “infrastructure first” approach to any new developments in the Lichfield District.

As Lichfield District Council considers these proposals and develops its Local Plan 2043, the overwhelming message from the Burntwood community is clear: the current infrastructure is already creaking, and a development of this magnitude cannot be supported without significant, prior investment in essential services.

Residents are urged to make their voices heard by contacting Lichfield District Council and supporting local community groups like the Burntwood Action Group.