A Duplicate Planning Application For Cranbrook.
East Devon District Council has set out to ensure that a duplicate planning application for the new community of Cranbrook, to be built north of Rockbeare, does not cause confusion among residents.
The East Devon New Community Partners have submitted a duplicate outline planning application for the 2,900 dwellings, schools, community facilities and employment land that make up the proposed new community.
The consortium have stated that the duplicate application, which contains the same information as the revised outline application discussed by East Devon’s Development Control committee in May, is a back-up measure, in case anything goes wrong during negotiations on the infrastructure and facilities to be provided for Cranbrook.
However, whilst the move may be merely a technical measure to give the developers room to manoeuvre, it is important that the Council repeats all of the consultation processes it went through with the original application.
Straightforward
A Council spokesman said: “We are writing to all the 2,000 or so people in the neighbourhood who were consulted the first time around. Although this application is apparently identical to the previous one, which is still under discussion, we must send details to everyone we contacted before. Every application must stand alone and be treated on its own merits.
“We have to remind people that if they wish their comments to be taken into account, they have to submit those comments afresh. We are not able to copy them en bloc to the documentation for the latest application, even though it is to all intents and purposes the same proposal.
“Our officers are working hard to get the information out to everyone concerned and we hope that the process is straightforward and does not cause too much confusion.
“Meanwhile, we continue to work with the New Community Partners to advance negotiations on the Section 106 package and other outstanding elements of the original application in a spirit of mutual co-operation. This process will continue, regardless of the latest news.
“The duplicate application will make a significant impact on the workload of our Development Control Officers, who are already working hard on the existing proposal and it is clear that this workload would increase still further, should we find ourselves in an appeal situation.
“We very much hope that our regional partners will recognise these pressures and will seek to deliver the resources that will enable us to take this project forward to the satisfaction of all concerned”.
Further information
Further information about the purpose of this duplicate application and details of any differences between the original and duplicate applications was submitted with the application. 
This information can be viewed by using this link. (121KB - PDF Help)
Should you wish to view the application, there are copies held at Ottery St Mary Town Council Offices (open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.00pm), or at the Planning Reception at the East Devon District Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth (open Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.00pm). Alternatively, the following Parish Councils also have copies: Clyst Honiton, Rockbeare, Aylesbeare, Whimple, Broadclyst.
