MORE than 100 people attended a consultation about a plan for 750 houses on land south of Barnfield, Crediton, (aka Old Deer Park) on March 22 in 2025 and now another consultation is due to take place.

A Fourth Crediton Community Conversation to talk about Future Planning for Crediton Housing, open space requirements, the High Street and transport will take place on Saturday, March 14.

A full house for the consultation in Crediton. AQ 6917
A full house for the consultation in Crediton. AQ 6917 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

It will be held at the Boniface Centre from 9.30am to 1pm and everyone is invited to attend.

The third consultation event was organised by Crediton Town Council and Sustainable Crediton’s Climate Action Team which were seeking the views of local residents on the forthcoming proposals.

The land is identified for new housing development in Mid Devon District Council’s (MDDC) Local Plan but both organisations have been working on a Vision document for the area.

Crediton Town Councillor Liz Brookes-Hocking explained before the third consultation that MDDC has begun the process of creating the next Local Plan which will cover the period to 2048.

She said that through the Housing and Land Availability Assessment (HELAA), the district council decides which sites put forward are suitable for development and then includes them in their plan. The plan has several stages of consultation before adoption.

Usually, town and parish councils and residents are not involved before the HELAA process is completed.

During the consultation event into the 750 homes plan for Crediton. AQ 6873
During the consultation event into the 750 homes plan for Crediton. AQ 6873 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Liz said this means that important decisions about which land is going to be used are made before the consultation stage begins.

She said Crediton Town Council believes residents should have their say at the earliest stage possible.

The proposed area is the last tract of undeveloped land inside the town boundary. Lots of ideas were put forward about how it should be used, these ideas being amalgamated into a Vision for the land.

Views were collated on housing, economic and educational opportunities, agriculture, sustainable transport: What kind of housing is needed in Crediton and how should it be designed? What kind of environment? How can the Vision contribute to the town’s economy and opportunities for young people? Open space, roads and footpaths.

Much of the land at Barnfield is owned by Devon County Council, the Symes Trust, some by local farmers.

Crediton Town Council is considering funding a Barnfield Area Traffic Survey in the near future.

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