105 homes and open space at Land South Of London Road, Rockbeare

“The application seeks outline planning permission (with all matters reserved apart from access) for the construction of up to 105 residential dwellings including affordable housing…”

“The application site is located to the South of London Road and East of Clay Hill within the Rockbeare Parish of East Devon. The site measures approximately 8.43ha in size and comprises of three agricultural fields with boundary trees and hedgerows and includes an L-shaped portion of an agricultural field to the west also bounded by trees and hedgerows.”

“The application seeks approval for a new vehicular access and a new pedestrian access on London Road. The proposed vehicular access would be on the northern boundary of the site and would include a shared foot/cycle way on the southern side of London Road as well as crossing points and traffic calming measures on London Road. The application includes pedestrian and cycle connections to London Road, Clay Hill and the private driveway leading into the Grange Expansion Area.”

“The application was originally submitted for up to 140 dwellings with two access points from London Road. Following consultation and comments from officers, the application was revised and the western parcel and access was removed from proposed development.”

“The proposed development would be in a sustainable location to the south of Cranbrook and adjacent to the Grange Expansion Area as well as being in close proximity to existing and planned services, facilities, employment opportunities and public transport. The proposal would provide new pedestrian and cycle connections, public open space, allotments, play facilities, biodiversity enhancements and access to the emerging Clyst Valley Regional Park.”

“In this instance and having considered the proposal against the Development Plan as a whole, the NPPF and all other material considerations, officers conclude that the adverse impacts of granting planning permission would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the development.”

“Whilst the proposal would be within the Green Wedge, officer consider that the development would not fundamentally undermine the function of the Green Wedge. The scheme has been designed to maintain a meaningful gap between Cranbrook and Rockbeare, retain openness across much of the site, respond to the site's topography, and avoid settlement coalescence.”

“Overall, officers conclude that although the proposal is contrary to the development plan as an unallocated residential development within the countryside and Green Wedge, the site occupies a sustainable location adjacent to Cranbrook and would make a valuable contribution towards addressing the Council's housing land supply shortfall in accordance with Policy S3 and Policy S5 (1) (j) of the NPPF.”

“RESOLVED: The Appropriate Assessment be adopted. Approved with conditions in accordance with officer recommendation subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement.”