Lichfield News
The latest Lichfield news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Packington Hall Farm Petition Tops 4,700 Over New Town Plan
4,706 people have signed against a new town at Packington Hall Farm on the A51. The council's study says 2,500 to 3,000 homes, and suggests at least 4,000.
More stories
Health
Lichfield Birthing Unit Closure Made Permanent by NHS Board
Samuel Johnson's birthing unit, shut since March 2020, will not reopen. Births stay at Burton, Stoke or home; the blood-test clinics stay in Burton.
Schools
Greywood Primary Lichfield: £12m School Open, Tours 18 Oct
Lichfield's new £12m Greywood Primary Academy has opened with nursery and Reception. Open days start 18 October; applications for 2027 close 15 January.
Planning
Lichfield Bus Station to Shrink to Five Stops in Park Plan
Amended plans for the Birmingham Road park shrink Lichfield bus station to five stops. Comments close 15 October; a decision is due in November.
Lichfield Leisure Centre
Lichfield Leisure Centre Earns Swim England Wellbeing Award
Lichfield Leisure Centre has Swim England's Water Wellbeing accreditation. Here are its weekly dementia-friendly, disability and health condition swims.
Business
Lichfield South: Tropicana Wholesale Signs 10-Year Lease
A sports nutrition wholesaler has pre-let the biggest unit at AXIS 5, Lichfield South, and will move 50 staff from Sutton Coldfield. Three units are still free.
Community
Lichfield carers' money panel: free online repeat 21 Oct
Over 25 unpaid carers put money questions to a free Grace Cares panel in Lichfield. The session runs again online on 21 October, 9.30am to 10.15am.
Shenstone
Shenstone Protest: Nine Arrested on Lynn Lane, Ages 24 to 77
Staffordshire Police arrested nine people on Lynn Lane on Monday, aged 24 to 77. It is the force's seventh published Shenstone protest statement since 2024.
Lichfield District Council
Lichfield District: Every Project in the £2m Developer Fund
Lichfield District Council has awarded £1,956,580 to 25 community projects this year. Here is every one, plus the £300,000 pump track still waiting.
Jobs
Lichfield claimant count jumps 95 in a month to 1,565
Lichfield's claimant count rose by 95 in August to 1,565, the highest since February 2025, and under-25s hit 365, the most since July 2021.
Travel
Lichfield Trent Valley trains: two October weekends closed
No main line trains at Lichfield Trent Valley on 10-11 and 17-18 October. Replacement buses run to Rugby, and Cross-City trains to Birmingham still run.
House prices
Lichfield House Prices: £335,799 as Growth Slows to 2.8%
The average Lichfield district home was worth £335,799 in July, up 2.8% in a year. Still Staffordshire's dearest, but flats slipped and Solihull is back ahead.
Planning
Burntwood Golf Simulator Refused, New Bid Open to 6 October
A five-bay golf simulator at Multipark Burntwood was refused on 4 September. The landlord applied again ten days later, and the council decides by 10 November.
Burntwood
Burntwood Crash: Woman Dies, Three Taken to Hospital
A woman died at the scene of a two-car crash on Burntwood Way on 9 September. The ambulance service sent three crews, three paramedic officers and a helicopter.
Schools
Bridge Academy Lichfield Meets Ofsted Standard in Every Area
Ofsted rated The Bridge Academy at the expected standard in all six areas, with safeguarding met, at the Lichfield school that takes excluded pupils.
Planning
Lichfield Local Plan: 15,380 Homes by 2046, Views by 5 Oct
Lichfield district must plan for 769 homes a year, 15,380 by 2046. The scoping consultation closes at 5pm on 5 October and the call for sites on 30 November.
Council
Lichfield District Council Abolition Paused by Ministers
Ministers told leaders on 7 September to stop work on the April 2028 merger. Three days on, the official Staffordshire hub still promises new councils in 2028.
Planning
Muckley Corner Stop Notice Breached, Council Says
Work carried on at Muckley Corner after a temporary stop notice, the council says, and an enforcement notice is now being served. Breaching one is a crime.
Lichfield
Lichfield Proms: 2026 Event Over, 2027 Date Not Yet Set
Lichfield Proms 2026 took place in Beacon Park on Saturday 5 September. The council holds it on the first Saturday of September each year, and 2027 booking has not opened.
Lichfield
Lichfield Dementia Wristbands: 2,000 Free, Where to Get One
The council funded 2,000 free tap-to-read wristbands and fobs for people with dementia. Two places hand them out on weekdays, plus five September sessions.
Business
Lichfield Energy Grants: All 11 Awards From the £75,000
The council named five recipients. Its own decision record names all eleven and every amount, from £11,210.50 down to £470. The scheme is now closed.
Burntwood
Burntwood Park Gets Teen Hangout, Bench and Play Panels
A teen hangout with hammocks, an accessible picnic bench and two play panels are now open. Three separate pots paid for them, and only one sum is published.
Burntwood
Burntwood Health Centre: Sport England Objects
Sport England has objected to the Burntwood health centre plan over lost football pitches. Approving it would now mean a referral to the Secretary of State.
Lichfield
Lichfield Canal Holds Water at Gallows Reach
The first 85 metres of the Lichfield Canal is in water at Gallows Reach, paid for with £200,000 of developer levy. Final watering is targeted for spring 2028.
House prices
Lichfield House Prices: £337,052, Dearest in Staffordshire
The average Lichfield home sold for £337,052 in June, up 3.9% in a year and £26,794 clear of South Staffordshire. The dearest district in the county, by type.
Fly-tipping
Lichfield Fly-Tipping: Second Vehicle Seized Since April
Officers seized a car in Fradley on 12 August over waste dumped at Whittington. It is the second seizure since April, after a year with no fly-tipping fines.
Community
Lichfield community grants: £1.17m fund closes 10 September
Lichfield District Council has £1,172,367 for community groups, in annual grants of £1,000 to £50,000. Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 10 September 2026.
Elford
Elford Community Park playground reopens after £75,000
Elford Community Park's playground is open again after a £75,000 rebuild from the developer levy, with a formal reopening due in early September.
Schools
A-level results 2026: how Lichfield's sixth forms did
Lichfield Cathedral School reported 53% of grades at A* or A and King Edward VI 50% at A*-B, against 24.2% at A or above across the West Midlands. School by school, with the figures each one published.
Business
Lichfield shopfront grants: up to £30,000, 75% funded
Lichfield District Council's £400,000 shopfront fund pays up to 75% of a full heritage rebuild. The guidance pack sets the three tiers, the excluded businesses and a 31 March 2028 cut-off.