by Alan Quick

RESIDENTS of Crediton and Sandford were invited to review Gleeson’s amended plans for the Creedy Bridge (Pedlarspool) development at two drop-in events on April 16 and 17.

Gleeson Developments have submitted amended plans for their Creedy Bridge application, reducing the amount of planned homes from 326 to 257.

The firm says these changes have been made following consultation with the community and in direct discussion with Mid Devon District Council.

John Smith of Gleeson Developments Ltd, is overseeing the amended plans.

He said: “Following the application submission, we’ve carefully considered the feedback received and amended our plans to respond to matters raised. This includes reducing the proposed number of homes from 326 to 257.

“The changes are also increasing the proportion of affordable homes whilst continuing to propose improvements to local services and infrastructure. Plans for the relocation of Crediton Rugby Club remain unchanged.” 

The firm said that the number of speculative applications coming forward across the district continues to increase.

It added that unlike Creedy Bridge, these have not been allocated or formally released for future development by the council. The firm said that these speculative applications are seeking to take advantage of the fact that sites formally allocated for development are not coming forward for development quickly enough, thereby resulting in a housing supply shortfall across the district.

It says that despite the council’s resistance to many of these, including the recent refusal for 120 dwellings at Chapel Downs Farm, without a robust housing land supply the district remains vulnerable to “planning by appeal”, including in the local area.

It says this emphasises the importance of supporting those applications which have already been released by the council.

USEFUL AND INFORMATIVE

Representatives from Gleeson’s spoke at both Sandford Parish Council and Crediton Town Council meetings on April 16 and 17.

Sandford Parish Council agreed that the consultation had been a useful and informative event and Gleeson’s agreed that Sandford Parish Council should have been involved in the original discussions and apologised that this did not happen.

Sandford Parish Council will discuss the outline planning application at its meeting on May 3.?In the meantime, Sandford Parish Council was advised by Simon Trafford from Mid Devon District Council: “All the comments that have already been submitted will be considered in the determination of the application.

“There is no need for parishioners to re-submit their earlier comments as these will remain on record and will be summarised for members when a report is prepared for their consideration.

“However given that the application details as they are to be revised are quite significant, it is the scope of the proposed changes that should be the focus of any further comments that are submitted.”

COMMENT BY APRIL 30

John Smith of Gleeson Developments Ltd recently wrote to the residents of Crediton and Sandford with further details of the revised plan for the Creedy Bridge site, formerly known as Pedlarspool.

He also invited the residents to attend the consultation events.

He wrote: "You will recall that last year Gleeson Developments Limited submitted a planning application (planning reference 17/00348/MOUT) for a sensitive residential led development of land at Creedy Bridge, a site that Mid Devon District Council has allocated for development in its adopted and emerging Local Plan.

"The outline planning application, submitted February 2017, was for up to 326 new homes; land for Crediton Rugby Club to relocate to; land safeguarded for a primary school; landscaping and areas of public open space; ecological mitigation and enhancement; and other related uses.”

The plan for the 8.6 hectares of land also includes five or six gypsy or traveller sites.

Opponents, members of the Creedy Valley Protection Group, encouraged members to attend the public drop-ins.

Comments about the plan are currently being sought by Mid Devon District Council and these must be submitted by April 30.

For further details, and to view the plan and associated documents, in full, visit the website: www.middevon.gov.uk .

It is easier to use the IDOX Public Access facility and to type in the plan reference: 17/00348/MOUT .

Comments can be submitted online or by email to: [email protected] .

You can post comments to: Development Management, Mid Devon District Council, Phoenix House, Tiverton EX16 6PP.

Mr Smith added that if anyone has any queries about the project in the meantime, then they can contact Matt Detzler from Gleeson Developments Ltd project team on freephone 0800 130 3270.

• Do you have a view about the housing plan? Is 257 homes better than 326?

Share your views with fellow Crediton Courier readers. Write a letter, suitable for publication, with your name, address and a daytime telephone number, to The Editorial Manager, Crediton Courier, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF.

Alternatively, email your letter, with the required information to: [email protected] .