£15m scheme unveiled

A £15 million development scheme which will create 200 much-needed parking spaces in Lichfield – and sheltered accommodation for residents – has been unveiled.

S Harrison, the company behind the £100 million Friarsgate scheme on Birmingham Road, has just lodged a planning application with Lichfield District Council for its scheme to redevelop the Friary Outer Car Park site on The Friary.

The firm wants to construct a new 460 space multi-storey car park, a sheltered housing scheme comprising 55 new warden monitored homes and 28 private apartments.

There will also be 10,000 sq ft of commercial accommodation, plus improved public toilets and a new path linking Queen Street, Festival Gardens, The Friary and Swan Road.

S Harrison first mooted its ideas for the Friary Outer site in 2005, and it was selected from several companies to work with the district council on the redevelopment scheme.

And the full planning application is set to be discussed at a planning committee in June.

The firm has also unveiled imaginative designs for the redevelopment which will see the effective application of green techniques and possibly even using geothermal technology to contribute towards the scheme's heating needs.

Once built the car park would be owned and run by the district council.