Plan for 185 more homes at Crediton moves a step nearer
25 April 2016The developer proposing to build 185 new homes at the entrance to Crediton at Tarka View, Wellparks held a public consultation exhibition at the Boniface Centre in the town on Tuesday afternoon (April 19).
The development proposed by Devonshire Homes of Tiverton will consist of one bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroomed houses. It will include a mixed housing development including 51 affordable homes opposite the Tesco store at Wellparks.
Outline planning permission has already been granted by Mid Devon District Council and the application also includes 2,000 square metres of land for employment uses (Classes B1 and B2) plus landscaping, sustainable drainage and ancillary open and play space. The outline planning was subject to a Section 106 agreement which was finalised last month. The agreement includes various financial contributions, including education, together with the provision of the 51 affordable homes.
The Wellparks site, part of the Downes estate, was allocated for residential development in the Mid Devon Allocations and Infrastructure Development Plan Document which was adopted in 2010. The properties will be in three sections, a rural character area, parkland character area and town character area.
Devonshire Homes say the site currently offers tremendous connectivity and transport links for its new residents. These will be supplemented by improved pedestrian and cycle routes. Steve Russell, managing director, Devonshire Homes, said following the public consultation event:
“We have been delighted with the turnout of local people to our exhibition and pleased with the positive engagement with our plans. We will now review the feedback with a view to making our planning submission next month.”
The company hopes that a planning decision will be reached in September and work can start on site in October. It hopes that the first homes will be occupied in March or April of 2017.
Devonshire Homes, at the request of local councillors, Nick Way and John Downes, is considering a request to look at the possibility of setting the pedestrian pathway back from the main road along a section of Exeter Road.
Cllr Way said that the suggestion is that the pathway along the main road be placed inside the development area, also making it suitable for cyclists, and thereby increasing the Boniface Trail Association’s aim of a cycle-way and path from Crediton to Exeter. A large section of the route is provisionally already in place.
The public will have a chance to have their say about the plan when the planning application has been submitted.
(Article from Crediton Courier Thursday, 21 April 2016 by Alan Quick)