Community consultation launched to help shape how Cranbrook develops over next 15 years

Following last year’s ‘Issues and Options’ consultation, residents of Cranbrook and neighbouring parishes are being encouraged by East Devon District Council to comment on the ‘Preferred Approach’ to how Devon’s newest town will grow and develop, as part of an 8 week community consultation.

Anyone living or working in and around Cranbrook can have their say on ‘The Cranbrook Plan: Preferred Approach’ from Friday 10 November 2017 – Monday 8 January 2018.

East Devon District Council sifted through all the comments and suggestions from the previous round of consultation to arrive at the ‘Preferred Approach’. The document sets out how the growth of the town up to around 8,000 households over the next 15 years will be achieved.

The Preferred Approach also identifies land for sport and community, economy and enterprise, schools, allotments and Gypsy and Travellers pitches. The ambition is to create a town which has health and wellbeing embedded within it and looks to encourage walking, cycling and use of public transport and provide large areas for recreation and leisure.

Responses to the Preferred Approach consultation will fine tune the Council’s planning policy for the town in the future, culminating in the adoption of a Development Plan Document (DPD).

Cllr Phil Twiss, Deputy Leader of East Devon District Council said: “This consultation is a major opportunity for residents of Cranbrook and those living and working around the town to influence how the town grows and what they would like to see happen. Last year we saw record numbers of people getting involved in the process, making lots of suggestions and asking how quickly some of facilities would take to bring forward.

"We are delighted at how East Devon’s new town has now moved on from all the years in the planning. To see Cranbrook become a vibrant home and community to over 3,500 people in just 6 years is truly inspirational.

"Cranbrook will become a standalone town of similar size to Barnstaple over the next twenty years. We need to meet the expectation of residents and make Cranbrook a vibrant place reflecting our unique position as the UK’s fastest growing town. I would encourage everyone to get involved and comment on The Cranbrook Plan: Preferred Approach document.”

Get Involved

5,000 postcards are being delivered to all homes and businesses in Cranbrook, Rockbeare, Clyst Honiton, Broadclyst and the surrounding area to promote involvement.

Consultation responses can be made online at eastdevon.gov.uk/cranbrook and there are also a number of events so people can find out more and have their say. Consultation sessions are taking place at existing events and activities around Cranbrook, Rockbeare and Clyst Honiton during November and December.

Events include:

25 November 2017 (4pm - 6pm) Christmas Market, Rockbeare Village Hall
26 November 2017 (9.30am – 12pm) Indoor car boot sale, Younghayes Centre, Cranbrook
28 November 2017 (5.30pm - 7.30pm) Belfry Room, Clyst Honiton Parish Church
7 December 2017 (5pm - 7pm) Christmas market, Younghayes Centre, Cranbrook

There are more events planned to get the views of young people at the Cranbrook Education Campus and questions and or queries can be made by social media using the hashtag #plancranbrook

For more information about the consultation process, view the documents and complete the questionnaire online visit www.eastdevon.gov.uk/cranbrook