A disused site in Burntwood is set to be transformed after we've revealed plans to build 54 new homes there.

We agreed a deal to buy the 3.3 acre site on Sycamore Road from Staffordshire County Council last year since when we have been drawing up its plans for the site, which has lain empty since 2019 when the existing council office buildings were demolished. Now we're seeking permission to build a mixture of 36 homes for social rent and 18 shared ownership homes on the land.

The proposed homes are a mix of two storeyed one, two, three and four-bedroom semi-detached and terraced houses. The finished site would be split in two, with some homes accessed from Sycamore Road and others from Maple Close with a footpath linking the two together.

Bromford planning manager Becky Crann said: “We know that house prices in the area are already out of reach of many and as the cost of living crisis grows the number of people in need of genuinely affordable housing is likely to grow. This development would allow local families to remain in an area they’re connected to through family, school or work, in homes they can afford to live in.

“We’ve taken careful consideration of the existing area when putting these plans together to ensure the height and scale and appearance of these homes match the appearance of the existing properties in the area. We think this is an excellent opportunity to provide additional affordable housing in the town, close to the town centre, leisure centre, schools and other amenities.”

We already own nearly 7,000 homes across Staffordshire and last year built more than 400 new homes across the county, including 190 in the Lichfield area.