Agenda item

Cllr Jeremy Wollen, Chairman of Rockbeare Parish Council, expressed concern regarding the proposed expansion of Cranbrook into neighbouring areas as set out in the Cranbrook DPD. He highlighted that the neighbouring communities were promised that the land to the south of the old A30 would not be developed and now the current Cranbrook DPD questions the integrity of the Local Plan and the Rockbeare Neighbourhood Plan. Rockbeare Parish Council and the community of Rockbeare produced a robust Neighbourhood Plan and have put their faith in planning policies to protect and retain the Green Wedge.

Cllr Mark Readman, Rockbeare Parish Councillor, again relating to the Cranbrook Development Plan Document, commented that under the Localism Act 2011, the parish council and local people came together in a neighbourhood forum to determine the designation of housing and neighbourhood shops. In 2012, Rockbeare Parish Council set out their Neighbourhood Plan and decided that they wanted to remain separate from any future development in East Devon’s West End. He further commented that East Devon District Council’s Local Plan includes Strategy 8, which refers to the development of Green Wedges and states that development within Green Wedges, would not be permitted if it would add to existing, sporadic or isolated development and would damage the individual identity of a settlement or could lead to settlement coalescence. Cllr Mark Readman further explained that any additional houses built in Cranbrook should be outside the designated Neighbourhood Plan areas of Rockbeare, Broadclyst and Clyst Honiton. Finally, he emphasised the time and money spent in putting together the Rockbeare Neighbourhood Plan which contains a core proposal of Rock06 which looks to protect the Green Wedge which holds a 93% approval rating.

Cllr Ron Forrest, Rockbeare Parish Councillor, again relating to the Cranbrook Development Plan Document, highlighted the enormous programme of housing that is being developed in and around the vicinity of Cranbrook which will overwhelm the village of Rockbeare. Cllr Forrest commented that 81% of housing development is going to be located on green-field sites and will reduce the amount of productive farmland. He also commented that 93% of Rockbeare residents are against the 1550 new houses that are planned as part of the Cranbrook expansion and do not want development to encroach into Rockbeare. Finally, Cllr Forrest expressed that the Rockbeare Neighbourhood Plan should not be overridden.

Paul Smith, speaking as a member of the public, also spoke to the committee about the Cranbrook Development Plan Document. He advised that much of the land overlooking the Rockbeare Valley is unspoilt landscape and that Savills, who were commissioned by East Devon District Council, identified an adverse visibility impact of development and gave alternative options – this advice has been ignored. Mr Smith raised concerns on the loss of green land and the negative impacts on local wildlife and biodiversity.

The committee considered the Service Lead’s – Planning Strategy and Development Management report which provides an update on the production of the Cranbrook Plan Development Plan Document and associated timescales, as well as outlining current planning applications and development in the town. It is stressed that this report is not the final draft of the Cranbrook Development Plan Document.

The proposed publication draft of the Cranbrook Plan will be reported to Strategic Planning Committee and Full Council for endorsement to submit to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public; it is anticipated that the plan will be presented to Strategic Planning Committee at the meeting of 29 January 2019 and will then go to Full Council on 27 February. Following this endorsement, a consultation would take place for a period of not less than 6 weeks. Following this final period of consultation the DPD and associated documents and supporting evidence, including comments received during the consultation, will be submitted for examination. On final adoption by the Council the plan will carry its full statutory weight in decision making processes.

Points raised during the discussion included:

·     The need to ensure that Members have all the facts and evidence in front of them during the committee meeting in January 2019 in order to make an informed decision.

·     Concerns were raised regarding the reputation of the Council when departures are made from the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans.

·     Concerns were raised around the Cranbrook development and that the Council is not fulfilling its promise for a balanced community.

·     Recognition of the village of Rockbeare and its initial resistance to being joined up to Cranbrook.

·     Concerns that the Council is encouraging Town and Parish Councils to invest time and money into producing Neighbourhood Plans for them to be overridden by the Local Plan.

·     Concerns that the Council is not adhering to Strategy 8 of the Local Plan where the land between Rockbeare and Cranbrook has been designated as a Green Wedge. In response, the committee were advised that all of the evidence has been assessed with regards to the land south of the A30 and it shows that there is room for development without it leading to the coalescence of Cranbrook and Rockbeare. However, alternatives are still being assessed but there is going to have to be compromises made in the near future.

·     The need to uphold the integrity of the neighbourhood planning process in East Devon.

·     The need to preserve green wedges throughout East Devon to ensure outstanding communities.

·     The recognition that the Planning Inspectorate examines developments on the wording of policies and not the boundaries on a map and officers have to make a judgement on whether developments cause areas to coalesce.

·     Members requested that the report presented to the committee regarding the draft Cranbrook Development Plan Document must contain all of the evidence information, and alternative options so that Members can make an informed and balanced decision regarding future development.

RESOLVED:

That the Cranbrook Plan Development Plan Document report be noted.