Funding blow for Lichfield’s Friarsgate development
An artist's impression of the Friarsgate development
EXCLUSIVE: The proposed Friarsgate development in Lichfield has been dealt a new blow after a proposal for funding was rejected.
Advantage West Midlands had planned to help fund the redevelopment of the city centre, but following a review they have now pulled out of the plans for Lichfield.
The regional development agency blamed budget cuts for the decision.
In a letter to Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant, Advantage West Midlands’ Chief Executive Michael Laverty said:
“Unfortunately we will not now be providing funding to the redevelopment of Friarsgate in Lichfield city centre. As you will appreciate, these have not been easy decisions to make and had circumstances been different and our budgets not been affected we would have been able to progress these projects as originally envisaged.
“Rest assured, we have adopted a systematic, thorough and consistent approach to our review to ensure that we have prioritised those projects that deliver the largest possible impact to the regional economy.”
The Friarsgate development was formally submitted for planning permission in 2006, with a hotel and various retail outlets, including a large Debenhams department store earmarked for the site.
But the proposals for the development have had to be altered to change the style and size of some of the buildings.
It’s not yet known what impact the loss of funding from Advantage West Midlands will have on the overall project.
[...] Mr Fabricant, who was told the news by Advantage West Midlands’ Chief Executive Michael Laverty, admitted that the blow could be [...]
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So most of that work on the bypass was done for nothing.More waste of funds.
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[...] The Lichfield Blog exclusively revealed, a review led to AWM informing the city’s MP Michael Fabricant that they would not be [...]
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Friarsgate needs this development to kick start shopping in lichfield again. Plans to build a cinema was said once but no longer . Lichfield could do with this entertainment
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Looks like I have an offspring!Hello offspring.
Is the reason the cinema has not been mentioned lately because no cinema group would take it on without subsidy?
Quote”Friarsgate needs this development to kick start shopping in lichfield again.”End of quote
Have you been to Lichfield recently?Today for example it was so busy in the main centre and at outer supermarkets. It has been like this with no sign ,except for a couple of shops shuting, of a credit crunch in Lichfield.We often have to go back home ,empty handed,or go to another town because you can not park in Lichfield.
There are a number of cinema’s not far away – go to them it will be cheaper for the (me) Tax Payer.
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