Lichfield District

The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being run by a Conservative minority administration.[12][13]

The first election to the district council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[14][15]

The leaders of the council since 1977 have been:[16]

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was:[22][23]

The next election is due in 2027.

Old Grammar School: Headmaster's house (left) and old school room, now council chamber (right).

The district council is based at the District Council House on Frog Lane. The building began as Lichfield Grammar School, which had been founded in 1495 and moved to this site in 1577. The oldest surviving part of the complex is the former headmaster's house at 45 St John Street, built in 1682. The main school room behind the house was rebuilt in 1849. The school moved to new premises in 1903 and later became the King Edward VI School in 1971. The former school buildings at the corner of St John Street and Frog Lane were bought by Lichfield Rural District Council in 1917 and subsequently converted to be that council's offices in 1920.[24] Following the local government reorganisation in 1974 the building passed to the current Lichfield District Council. A large extension was added in 1987 facing Frog Lane, incorporating a new main entrance.[25] The 1849 school room serves as the council chamber.[26]

Lichfield District’s 22 wards are:[27][28]

The district includes areas in two parliamentary constituencies: Lichfield and Tamworth.[29]

• Alrewas, Armitage
• Blithbury, Burntwood
• Chase Terrace, Chasetown, Chorley, Clifton Campville, Colton, Comberford, Croxall, Curborough
• Drayton Bassett
• Edingale, Elford, Elmhurst
• Farewell, Fazeley, Fisherwick, Fradley
• Gentleshaw
• Hademore, Hammerwich, Hamstall Ridware, Handsacre, Harlaston, Haunton, Hill Ridware, Hilliards Cross, Hints, Hopwas
• Kings Bromley
• Lichfield, Little Aston, Little Hay, Longdon
• Mavesyn Ridware, Mile Oak
• Orgreave
• Pipe Ridware
• Rileyhill
• Shenstone, Stockwell Heath, Stonnall, Streethay, Swinfen
• Thorpe Constantine
• Upper Longdon
• Wall, Weeford, Whittington, Wigginton

The entire district is divided into civil parishes. The parish council for Lichfield itself takes the style "city council", and the parish councils for Burntwood and Fazeley take the style "town council".[30]

• Drayton Manor Theme Park - A 280-acre theme park and zoo with 35 rides in total, including 5 roller coasters and 4 water rides.
• Curborough Sprint Course - A premier motorsport venue for speed sprinting against the clock.

• Lichfield Garrick Theatre - A modern theatre seating 480 people, named after David Garrick who was brought up in Lichfield.

• Lichfield Cathedral - The only medieval cathedral in Europe with three spires. The present building was started in 1195, and completed by the building of the Lady Chapel in the 1330s. It replaced a Norman building begun in 1085 which had replaced one, or possibly two, Saxon buildings from the seventh century.
• Cathedral Close - Surrounding the Cathedral with its many fine buildings is one of the most unspoilt in the country.
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum - A museum to Samuel Johnson's life, work and personality.
• Erasmus Darwin House - Home to Erasmus Darwin, the house was restored to create a museum which opened to the public in 1999.
• Lichfield Heritage Centre - in St Mary's Church in the market square, an exhibition of 2,000 years of Lichfield's history.
• Bishop's Palace - Built in 1687, the palace was the residence of the Bishop of Lichfield until 1954, it is now used by the Cathedral School.
• Milley's Hospital - Located on Beacon Street, it dates back to 1504 and was a women's hospital.
• Hospital of St John Baptist without the Barrs - A distinctive Tudor building with a row of eight brick chimneys. This was built outside the city walls (barrs) to provide accommodation for travellers arriving after the city gates were closed. It now provides home for elderly people and has an adjacent Chapel.
• Church of St Chad - A 12th-century church though extensively restored, on its site is a Holy Well by which St Chad is said to have prayed and used the waters healing properties.
• St Michael on Greenhill - Overlooking the city the ancient churchyard is unique as one of the largest in the country at 9 acres (4 ha).
• Christ Church - An outstanding example of Victorian ecclesiastical architecture and a grade II* listed building.
• The Franciscan Friary - The ruins of the former Friary in Lichfield, now classed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
• Lichfield Clock Tower - A Grade II listed 19th century clock tower, located south of Festival Gardens.
• Letocetum - The remains of a Roman Staging Post and Bath House, in the village of Wall, 1-mile (1.6 km) south of the city.
• Staffordshire Regiment Museum - 2.5 miles (4 km) east of the city in Whittington, the museum covers the regiment's history, activities and members, and include photographs, uniforms, weapons, medals, artifacts, memorabilia and regimental regalia. Outdoors is a replica trench from World War I, and several armoured fighting vehicles.
• The Market Square - In the centre of the city of Lichfield, the square contains two statues, one of Samuel Johnson overlooking the house in which he was born, and one of his great friend and biographer, James Boswell.

• Beacon Park - An 81-acre (33 ha) public park in the centre of the city, used for many sporting and recreational activities.
• Minster Pool & Stowe Pool - The two lakes occupying 16 acres in the heart of Lichfield, Stowe Pool is designated a SSSI site as it is home to native White-Clawed Crayfish.
• National Memorial Arboretum - 4 miles (6 km) north east of the city in Alrewas, the arboretum is a national site of remembrance and contains many memorials to the armed services.
• Chasewater Country Park - A country park including a 3-square-kilometre reservoir which hosts a variety of activities including water skiing, sailing, angling and bird watching. The Chasewater habitat also supports several rare plant and animal species.
• Chasewater Railway - A 2 mile long, former colliery railway running round the shores of Chasewater.
• Garden of Remembrance - Located next to Lichfield Cathedral and Minster Pool, the garden was opened in 1920 to commemorate soldiers lost in the First World War.
• Gentleshaw Common - A Site of Special Scientific Interest that contains rare species of heathland plants.
• Fradley Junction - A canal junction between Fradley and Alrewas popular with gongoozlers and other visitors. Fradley Pool Nature Reserve is adjacent to the junction.
• Prince's Park - Located in Burntwood, it is featured in the Guinness Book of Records for being the smallest park in the United Kingdom.

• Three Spires Shopping Centre - The principle shopping area in the heart of Lichfield with over 40 top name stores and 750 parking spaces.
• Heart of the Country Shopping Village - Individual shops and distinctive restaurants, a welcome alternative to high street shopping.

Plans have been approved for Friarsgate, a new £100 million shopping and leisure complex opposite Lichfield City Station. The police station, bus station, Ford garage and multi-storey car park will be demolished to make way for new retail space and leisure facilities consisting of a flagship department store, six-screen cinema, hotel, 37 individual shops, 56 apartments and over 700 car parking spaces.