FOUR commercial units, three of which have already been earmarked by Greggs for a bakery, cafe and takeaway, Screwfix for DIY and trade counter and Howdens (joinery) are included in a planning application for Wellparks on the Exeter Road at Crediton.

The application is also to create 18 new homes ranging from one to four bedroomed using the farmhouse and Wellparks’ redundant farm buildings.

Mr Spencer Popham of GPG Developments Limited of Hemyock has applied to Mid Devon District Council to convert the farmhouse and buildings to 18 dwellings and erection of four commercial buildings (use Classes B8, E, Sui Generis), which means in planning those that do not fall within any particular use class, unique, at Wellparks where there are Grade II Listed buildings.

The new homes would range from one to four bedroom properties with six in the farmhouse.

Access would be via a new one-way road off the entrance to Tarka View from Wellparks Hill, to exit on the A377 with a one-way road looping coming off it through the new homes.  It would also give access to the commercial units.

There would be a total of 68 car parking spaces on the residential site plus 91 cycle parking spaces and four disability spaces.   Arrangements have been included for separate storage and collection of recyclables.

AC Archaeology put in a very interesting Heritage Statement which said the farm had become redundant in the latter part of the 20th century and the buildings not maintained after that.

67 DOCUMENTS

It added that keeping the historic buildings would preserve that part of their architecture that contributed to their significance and, taking away the modern attachments, would enhance their character and allow better appreciation of their architecture and historic uses.

Agent for Mr Popham is Mrs Catherine Baddeley of McMurdo Land Planning and Development, Exeter.

As of the beginning of this week there were 67 documents associated with the application including six objections.

One from a Tarka View resident said that their estate already has parking issues which have led to many homeowners parking on the road which, she felt, would only increase should more people visit the estate.

‘INAPPROPRIATE’

She asked whether the planned commercial units would have bright security lights because there were already issues with the bright lights of Mole Avon at night. But she supported the application because the town needed more homes.

Another Tarka View resident supports the residential side of the application but asks why more commercial units are needed when the town already has industrial estates within walking distance of the buildings.

Another Tarka View person does not mind residential but opposes commercial.  One objection from a Willow Walk resident said it was “an inappropriate place” for such development.  A Tarka View resident asks about swallow boxes and whether covered parking areas would provide areas for them.

Plans for the proposed commercial units show they have been earmarked by Greggs for a bakery, cafe and takeaway, Screwfix for DIY and trade counter and Howdens (joinery), which have brought adverse comments. The fourth unit does not have anyone named for it but there have been “high levels of interest”.

McMurdo Land Planning and Development of Exeter say that the majority of the Wellparks site formed part of an outline planning permission to provide 185 new dwellings at Tarka View which has been completed.

£1m IN ANNUAL WAGES

The remaining land, which this application is for, was proposed mainly for employment use but not brought forward when the new homes were built.

McMurdo say the site “will deliver vital employment premises to Crediton with occupiers already in place, subject to planning permission.

“The end user approach has enabled the applicant to present clear evidence on the economic benefits associated with approval of this application in terms inward investment and job creation.

“The proposed development will deliver a positive economic impact to the town.  It will generate construction wages of more than £2million and once fully occupied, generate annual wages of almost £1 million as a result of an estimated 32 FTE (full time employment) jobs.”

In its 25-page report, McMurdo goes on to say: “In addition, the high quality residential dwellings will enable scheme viability and deliver the sensitive conversion of the listed farmhouse and buildings, to their optimum viable uses.”

SECURITY?

Among the 67 separate documents is a 19-page report on how air quality might be affected while building was going on,  and from Devon, Cornwall and Dorset Police mainly concerned because there was no mention of security or crime prevention measures in the Design and Access Statement.

There is a report on the structural state of the buildings.  McMurdo go on to say that the scheme is considered to provide the optimum viable use of the site, providing a sustainable long-term future for a group of derelict Listed Buildings within land allocated for development.

It says: “In the author’s experience of other derelict Listed Buildings within large-scale allocated land developments, a scheme that preserves their significance – rather than allowing them to fall into neglect or be subject to anti-social behaviour and vandalism – should be welcomed, and supported in accordance with national and local guidance and policy on conservation of the historic environment.”

Documents include an ecological appraisal, transport assessment, flood risk, travel plan, demolition plan, planting schedule, drainage strategy, heritage statement, structural report, geotechnical report and much more that is most interesting.  Check it out on the district council’s website.

Sue Read