THE planning application for more homes on the outskirts of Crediton but in Sandford parish is moving to the next stage.

In May last year, the local planning authority, Mid Devon District Council approved the much-debated outline planning application for up to 257 homes, subject to a range of conditions.

This week, the applicant, Naomi Taylor of Bellway Homes Ltd, submitted the Reserved Matters for the erection of 257 dwellings and up to five Gypsy and Traveller pitches; associated works in connection with 8.6ha of land to facilitate the future relocation of Crediton Rugby Club and up to 1.1ha of land for the delivery of a future primary school.

The Reserved Matters application (22/00063/MARM), also includes details of landscaping, public open space and other associated infrastructure and engineering operations and access and highway work following outline approval 17/00348/MOUT at Land at NGR 284185 101165 (Creedy Bridge) Crediton.

Reserved Matters means, where outline permission has been granted, an applicant may, within three years of the outline approval, make an application for the outstanding reserved matters, i.e. the information excluded from the initial outline planning application. This will typically include information about the layout, access, scale and appearance of the development.

The outline application previously approved also included details of access arrangements from the A3072 (Exhibition Way); pedestrian and cycle access on to Pounds Hill/Stonewall Cross junction, Old Tiverton Road and Pedlarspool Lane; landscaping and area of public open space; and other associated infrastructure and engineering operations.

Reasons for approval of permission/grant of consent were given by Mid Devon District Council in May.

At the time the Planning Officer said: “The principle of developing the site for a mixed use scheme including residential development with five pitches for gypsies and travellers, and the safeguarding of land to provide a primary school and facilities for Crediton Rugby Club are considered to be in accordance with policy CRE5 (Mid Devon Local Plan 2013-2033).

“Although the number of houses proposed exceeds the emerging policy target it remains at a density which is policy compliant.

“The means of access is considered acceptable in terms of highway safety and local area capacity concerns.

“Matters relating to architecture and design of all buildings, height, scale and massing of all buildings and site layout issues, including the design of all open space, landscaped areas, drainage infrastructure and parking provision are all reserved for future consideration.

“The applicant has agreed to enter into a section 106 agreement to cover matters relating to the level and nature of affordable housing to be provided on site, contributions towards delivering education facilities off site, improvements to the highway network off site and a contribution to assist with the delivery of infrastructure to encourage sustainable travel, and to safeguard the land to deliver the community uses as required by policy.

“No significant issues are raised in terms of this application scheme regards: impact on heritage assets, drainage, flood risk and/or ground contamination, the impact on any neighbouring heritage assets and without resulting in any impacts on protected species/ecology that cannot be satisfactorily mitigated against. On this basis the application scheme is considered to meet the requirements of Policies CRE11, S1, S3, S5, S8, S9, S12, and DM25 of the Mid Devon Local Plan 2013-2033.

“Furthermore given the proposed community benefits that will be delivered in terms of securing on site affordable housing, the safeguarding of land to deliver a new primary school and a new home for Crediton Rugby Club, which are considered to outweigh any harm arising, the proposals are considered to be in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework, both paragraph 11 and the guidance as taken as whole, in terms of the number of residential units that are proposed.”

Included with the Reserved Matters are details of the types of homes Bellway Homes Ltd intends to build at the site, wildlife and other survey details, a design compliance statement, play requirements, details of a gypsy amenity building, planning layout, car/cycle parking strategy, street scene details, drainage ponds, pedestrian links and much more.

Comments (also known as a representations) can be submitted online: https://planning.middevon.gov.uk/online-applications/ .

Comments can be sent by post to: Development Management, Mid Devon District Council, Phoenix House, Tiverton EX16 6PP.

The planning application number should be included in all correspondence.

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