Lichfield District Council has opened the first consultation on its new Local Plan, inviting residents, businesses and organisations to shape how the district grows over the coming years.

The council is asking for input on priorities and issues that should guide the plan's development. No decisions have yet been made about where future development will take place.

What the Local Plan covers

The Local Plan will determine where development should happen and set out policies to guide planning decisions. It brings together plans for homes and jobs alongside infrastructure, transport, the environment, high streets and local communities.

The Government requires councils to plan for housing need using a national calculation method. Lichfield District must plan for 769 homes a year.

The Local Plan addresses this growth locally, including decisions about where development could occur and what infrastructure will be needed to support it. The council will work with Staffordshire County Council, the NHS, and transport and utility providers on future infrastructure needs.

Topics for consultation

The consultation covers homes and communities, infrastructure, jobs and the economy, high streets, transport, climate change and the natural environment.

Councillor Alex Farrell, Cabinet Member for Housing and the Local Plan, said: "Lichfield District is a great place to live, work and visit, and we want to plan carefully for how it grows and develops. The Local Plan helps us look at the bigger picture – not just where development could happen, but how we plan for jobs, infrastructure, transport, our environment and the needs of our communities alongside it."

He added: "There are national requirements we have to plan for, but there are important decisions to make locally too. This first consultation is our opportunity to listen to residents before we start developing the options – to understand what matters to you, what you think our priorities should be and what we need to consider as the district grows."

How to take part

The scoping consultation runs for four weeks and closes at 5pm on 5 October 2026. Residents can read more about the Local Plan and participate at the council's consultation portal: Developing our new local plan – Scoping Consultation.

A separate Call for Sites also launched today and remains open until the end of November, allowing landowners to submit land for consideration.