Tuesday, December 2nd, was a dark and dismal day for Burntwood residents.

While many were opening the second door of their advent calendars, a different kind of door was being forced open on our Green Belt. The Outline Planning Application for Church Road and Coulter Lane has officially gone live on the Lichfield District Council planning portal. Link here: https://planning.lichfielddc.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=T6L9YIJEL6R00

Despite massive objections from local residents and the Burntwood Action Group, it appears Bloor Homes are insistent on profiting from the destruction of our heritage landscape.

Consultation or Lip Service?

During the initial consultation process, Burntwood residents were asked for their views. The feedback was resounding, loud, and clear: NO. Wrong time, wrong place.

The fact that a formal outline application has now been submitted—supported by mountains of documentation from Bloor’s consultants—proves one thing:

To them, consultation means: “We will listen, lift up the carpet, brush your concerns underneath it, and build anyway.”

They are dressing this up as a “beautiful green space for us all to enjoy,” but let’s call it what it is: a profit-driven mission to turn our Green Belt into a construction site.

The “Merry Christmas” Stitch-Up

We knew this was coming, but the timing is cynical, even for a developer.

The public consultation period for Lichfield District Council finishes on January 2nd. That gives us a window almost entirely consumed by the Christmas holidays to formulate our objections. While we are revving up for festive family time, Bloor Homes has delivered a clear message: Stuff you, Burntwood.

The Myth of “Affordable” Housing

Let’s talk about the 43% “affordable” and social housing claim.

Building “little unimaginative boxes” in Burntwood’s heritage area is the worst possible outcome for this land. Do not be fooled—the developer has the real control over the final market value not the Government. “Affordable” is a buzzword. A box built in a location with two-thirds open green space will command a premium price, building is really, really expensive at the moment. These will not be homes for local people struggling to get on the ladder; they are profit margins disguised as community benefits.

The Bigger Picture

This is a symptom of a Government and an NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) that is out of control. They are handing over beautiful parts of our country to developers under a “build baby build” mandate, regardless of local resistance.

We do not need open Green Belt land converted into housing estates. We need new settlements with thousands of homes that come with their own supply of infrastructure, schools, and networks—not parasitic developments that drain our existing resources and erase our landscape forever.

We Need You Now More Than Ever

Make no mistake: there are many more applications waiting in the wings that will change our landscape forever if we do not stand our ground.

But we have only just started.

We need you to tell your friends, your family, your neighbors, and everyone you know. We need numbers, and we need noise.

What happens next? Over the next few weeks, the Burntwood Action Group will be publishing specific actions for everyone to take. It is vital that as many people as possible contribute to the official objection process.

We want you to enjoy your Christmas, but keep your powder dry. The fight for Burntwood’s Green Belt is on.

#SaveBurntwood #GreenBelt #WrongTimeWrongPlace