By Daniel Clark and Nora Parminter

MID Devon District Council’s (MDDC) planning committee members have re-affirmed the decision for development at Creedy Bridge (Pedlarspool) giving the go-ahead for 257 new homes and the relocation of Crediton rugby club.

MDDC granted planning permission in 2018 (Application 17/00348/MOUT – Creedy Bridge, Crediton) to approve the Gleeson Strategic Land proposals for land at Creedy Bridge.

The plans included 8.6 hectares of land for a new club house and replacement and additional sports pitches for Crediton Rugby Club, up to 1.1 hectares of land for a new primary school, and up to five pitches for the gypsy and traveller community.

Councillors voted overwhelmingly to reaffirm that decision, following the adoption of the Mid Devon Local Plan, and with some minor amendments, including the revisions to the s106 agreement.

John Smith, planning manager for Gleesons, told Mid Devon’s planning committee that nothing material that they voted for in 2018 had been changed from what they had previously approved, but it would help unlock the application.

There had been an objection to the granting of the planning permission from the Devon Garden Trust, but recommending approval, officers said: “The response and the material considerations do not outweigh the previous resolution by members to approve the proposed development subject to the signing of a S106 agreement.

“There is no objection to the proposed changes to the Heads of Terms from a planning perspective which are intended to result in the same outcome of safeguarding areas of the site for the relocation of Crediton Rugby Football Club and the delivery of five gypsy and traveller pitches within the district, in line with the Local Plan Review policies.”

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Councillors voted by seven votes to one, with two abstentions, to once again grant outline planning permission.