Big name shops and bus depot on way to Burntwood

Backers of the plan want to silence critics who claim the town has been sidelined in the past.

A makeover for the retail heart of the town will be supported by a £5m spend on better transport facilities, including a new bus depot and more buses.

Council bosses say they want to provide 'a new town centre' that will include national retailers such as Clintons, Dorothy Perkins and Starbucks.

The plans have been drawn up and given priority status in the Lichfield District Council Local Plan. Now funding for the work will be sourced. Bosses also want to take more control over their transport services under plans to devolve power to local communities.

Some improvements have already been made to Burntwood with the help of £50,000 from the government's High Street Innovation Fund launched on the back of a report by TV retail guru Mary Portas on struggling town centres.

But Councillor Sue Woodward said it had long been established that Burntwood needed bigger-name shops, particularly fashion clothes stores.

Bonus

She said: "Over the years we feel as though we've missed out when money is being handed out for – now it's Burntwood's turn.

"We have new housing developments such as the 350-home Burntwood Manor estate on the edge of Chasetown that have brought additional funding for infrastructure through the government's new homes' bonus, which is money that could be used.

"Retail outlets like Clintons, Dorothy Perkins and Starbucks would be the kind of shops we would be looking for."

The district council and Staffordshire County Council want to take more control over transport services under the government's devolved powers plan. Councillor Woodward, who sits on both authorities, said: "Too often people are at the mercy of bus companies who take services off at a moment's notice."

Under the plan, £2m would be spent on a new bus depot, better bus access and services and a further £3m on public transport, improving walking and cycling facilities and encouraging people to use the existing transport system.

The local plan identifies the need to provide a new town centre together with 'increased retail and leisure offer and appropriate infrastructure to support this growth'.

The town centre improvements would be phased in over the next 13 years with public transport changes scheduled to coincide.

Councillor Woodward said: "We're optimistic that this will happen sooner rather than later now that the economy is picking up after the global recession."