Community and developers invited to have their say on Cranbrook Plan

Consultation on the draft Cranbrook Plan has now begun and the public have until 24 April 2019 to give their comments on this important masterplan for Cranbrook's future development

Consultation has now begun on a draft of the Cranbrook Plan Development Plan Document (DPD), which links to the adopted East Devon Local Plan and shows how the expansion of the town, which is destined to grow to around 7,850 homes, will be achieved.

The Cranbrook plan also seeks to reinvigorate the vision of the town as a zero carbon development and to ensure the delivery of schools, shops, parks, open spaces, roads and services to meet the needs of residents and visitors to what will be an active, healthy and truly 21st century new town.

Full Council gave the go ahead to the Cranbrook Plan consultation on 27 February 2019 and agreed that the Cranbrook Plan should be consulted on for six weeks, starting on Monday 11 March and finishing on Wednesday 24 April. The draft DPD had previously been considered by members of East Devon District Council's Strategic Planning Committee on 20 February 2019.

The consultation is the final stage in the Cranbrook Plan's production before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination, so it is vital that the community and developers go through the proposals and submit any comments they may have.  If no changes are needed as a result of any comments submitted during this final consultation, then the document will be sent directly to the Planning Inspectorate for examination.  This is expected to take place in late summer or early autumn 2019. 

There will be ample opportunity during this current consultation for members of the public to meet officers, who will be holding manned pop-up events to answer any questions or queries people may have. There will also be an unmanned static exhibition on display in the foyer of the Younghayes Centre, Cranbrook.

Pop-up consultation events:

Tuesday 19 March 4pm to 7pm Belfry Room, Clyst Honiton

Thursday 21 March 4pm to 7pm Village Hall, Rockbeare

People can view the draft Cranbrook Plan online where there is also a form for respondents to use to submit their comments.

Submission of comments can be made electronically by email to [email protected] or by post addressed to: The Cranbrook Plan, Planning Policy, East Devon District Council, Blackdown House, Border Road, Heathpark Industrial Estate, Honiton, EX14 1EJ.

Since the Preferred Approach consultation for the Cranbrook Plan, which was held in late 2017/early 2108, the council has listened to comments made by the public and made a number of changes to the Plan including:

Responding to the now adopted Rockbeare Neighbourhood Plan by proposing not to include development within the allocated green wedge to the north of Rockbeare village, which had previously been a source of concern to the communities of both Rockbeare and Cranbrook.

Proposing that land further to the east be brought forward for development and included in the Plan instead of the land within the Green Wedge

Proposing to reduce the level of affordable homes provided from 25% to 15% in response to extensive viability work carried out on the proposals to maintain the funding for good services and facilities in Cranbrook. 

Proposing changing the way facilities and services at Cranbrook are developer funded – by using Section 106 Legal Agreements instead of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).  This is because changes in government legislation have made this possible and by adopting this approach there will be more money to invest in facilities at the town than would have been previously. It also enables the developers to provide more of these facilities directly, which is generally more efficient.

Cllr Paul Diviani, the Chairman of East Devon's Strategic Planning Committee, said:

We are really proud to be able to put the Cranbrook Plan out for consultation. This consultation is the last before the Cranbrook Plan is submitted to the Secretary of State, unless changes are needed as a result of any comments. I would strongly encourage the community to look at what we are proposing, talk to our planners and see how the plan delivers on their aspirations. All comments at this stage will be considered by the Planning Inspector alongside the document when it is examined so it is really important that people take this opportunity to speak up and have their say.