Planning permission granted by East Devon District Council.

East Devon District Council has granted planning permission for first section of the main spine road which would allow developers access to the site where Cranbrook will be built.

The permission is for part of the main access road into the new community or “Main Local Route” (MLR). It will be located on land east of Station Road Broadclyst and north of the old A30 and will provide an essential link through the first phase of the development to the proposed new station and will open up the development site.

The move is being seen an important milestone in the story of Cranbrook and gives the new community partners, who will be building the development, permission to begin this key piece of infrastructure.

Work on the first section of the route is planned to start next Spring, ahead of the main development, to provide the developers with access to what will be essential social and community facilities including the site of the railway station and the first neighbourhood centre.

Cllr Ray Franklin, Chairman of the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point Steering Board and East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning and Regeneration, said: “We have always believed that key infrastructure such as the railway station and the first neighbourhood centre should be delivered as early as possible in the development of Cranbrook. The new residents will need access to public transport and social and community facilities so that they can begin to develop a sense of place and community. The issuing of the planning permission for the Main Local Route (MLR) is the first step towards getting this essential infrastructure in place.”

The main local route will also enable access to the site of what will be a multi-purpose building (MPB) located in the first neighbourhood centre, where eventually there will also be a local convenience store, commercial retail premises and first primary school, public open space and a site for a place to worship.

The multi-purpose building will be open for use by the time that the first 150 homes are occupied and be a place where the new residents will be able to access social and community facilities, such as healthcare, library provision and community development.

The main local route is being provided by the developers with funding support from the South West RDA’s Regional Infrastructure Fund, which provides funding for infrastructure, ensuring it is delivered early and will be paid back once the development progresses.