81 new homes announced in Cranbrook

Some of them could be used as shops

Plans for 81 homes in an East Devon town that include properties that can be turned into shops have been approved.

The proposal from housing giant Taylor Wimpey was first submitted in 2023, but extensive discussions about how to bring the Cranbrook scheme forward have meant it has only just been given the go-ahead.

The properties will be built on land off Court Royal and Badger Way, but 14 of the homes have been specifically designed so that part of the ground floor can be converted into a shop.

The aim of this idea is to help ensure that Cranbrook town centre doesn’t continue to develop with a disproportionate amount of homes compared to amenities and services.

Planners said the 14 homes had been laid out in a way that the front half of the ground floor could be transformed into a commercial premises, and that residents could access their homes from the rear door into their kitchen, while the two other floors would remain unaffected.

Richard Harrison, from Taylor Wimpey, said the process for delivering the development began in 2018, and that very similar schemes had recently been approved by East Devon District Council’s planning committee.

“The application was submitted in 2023 and has been through several design changes requested and crafted by East Devon, and this plan is the culmination of those,” he said.

“The scheme has a distinct design character that is more urban, and features an apartment building to complement the town centre, with a strong sense of place from the houses fronting Court Royal and Badger Way.”

He added that the design of one of the parcels of land included in the scheme had taken into account the nearby Grade II listed Stone Villa on London Road, and that there were now pedestrian links to that road too.

The scheme will include solar power to all homes, which would also be triple-glazed.

The plan includes just six affordable homes, but a legal agreement has been struck with the developer to secure other concessions that planners suggested would bring about a compelling benefit to Cranbrook.

Councillor Ian Barlow (Independent, Sidmouth Town) acknowledged the council was “straying from the Cranbrook plan” in terms of the percentage of affordable homes a scheme should have, but that there “are reasons for it”.

“It’s for the good of the town as a whole that this goes through,” he said.

Councillor Kim Bloxham (Independent, Cranbrook) said she welcomed the scheme, but stressed the need for the legal agreement to be secured as quickly as possible to ensure everything that had been promised was gained.

The developer has agreed to contribute towards the likes of primary school places, sustainable travel, and cash for car-sharing and e-bike schemes.

The plan was unanimously agreed by the planning committee.