East Devon planners have approved an outline plan for up to 105 new homes on a green wedge of land south of London Road, which currently separates the village of Rockbeare from the neighbouring town of Cranbrook. The green wedge designation is meant to prevent the two communities from merging.
The developer, Waddeton Park, scaled the scheme down from 140 homes to 105 and proposed single-storey homes on part of the plot while leaving some land undeveloped. These changes persuaded planning officers to recommend approval, despite concerns from some committee members about the loss of green wedge land.
Councillor Olly Davey (Green Party, Exmouth Town) said: "Members of the public watching this would conclude that green wedges are hardly worth the paper they are written on." He added: "But we have the same situation north of Exmouth where we have a green wedge that is in the local plan as a preferred [development]site and unfortunately they are not sacrosanct." He noted that while a planning inspector had originally concluded the Exmouth site's green wedge designation was important, he thought the protection was "a lot less now".
Councillor Todd Olive, who represents Rockbeare ward, had called the application "fundamentally unacceptable" in May because it was outside any established development boundary and on part of the "last remaining area of the green wedge between Cranbrook and the northern edge of Rockbeare". However, he chose not to have a statement read out at the planning committee.
The housing application is linked to plans to turn nearby agricultural land into a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), which would include public open space, play space, and allotments within the emerging Clyst Valley Regional Park.
Because this is an outline plan, a more detailed version will need to be submitted before any homes are built.
Amy Roberts, the agent for the developer, said engagement with East Devon had been ongoing for over 18 months. "We have really listened and made significant changes to the scheme," she said. "Most importantly, the western most part of the development has been removed, and we have scaled the site down from 140 homes to 105. That directly addresses any concerns and materially reduces the visual impact." She added that because the new development would not breach the ridge line on the green wedge, it was acceptable because it would not lead to coalescence between Rockbeare and Cranbrook.
Revised national planning policies updated in August make it harder for local councils to oppose proposed developments unless the harms substantially outweigh the benefits. East Devon is also behind on its five-year housing target, which adds pressure to approve schemes.
Planners Approve 105 Homes on Green Wedge Between Rockbeare and Cranbrook