Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Place. At the January 2022 Economy PDG meeting, a request was made for an update on work being undertaken to progress opportunities for business growth by development at the motorway junctions. This report therefore seeks to present an update in relation to work underway in relation to Junctions 27 and 28, and opportunities that exist therein.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, a report * from the Director of Place. At the January 2022 meeting, a request was made for an update on work being undertaken to progress opportunities for business growth by development at the motorway junctions in Mid Devon. This report presented an update in relation to work underway in relation to Junctions 27 and 28 and opportunities that existed therein.

The following was highlighted within the report:

• The Council had a stated ambition to see development around Junctions 27 and 28 of the M5.  The Policy guiding development of the allocated sites is  contained within the Local Plan and were supported by other planning documents.
• Progress on the scheme had been slower than anticipated being heavily influenced by the pandemic.
• Discussions with some landowners had shown that there was still some development interest but also some doubt as to whether this was as originally envisaged.
• Interest remains from Eden for the ‘Eden Grounds’ project but any masterplan would need to cover the whole of the site and be adopted as an SPD prior to determination of any planning application. It would therefore be necessary for Eden to work with MDDC and landowners in order to develop proposals for the site.
• The Council was taking a proactive role in trying to achieve the development aspiration. In due course engagement with relevant parties would widen. Engagement with the new Local Plan would also take into account any new aspirations.
• Regarding J28, key projects were progressing such as the Cullompton railway station project and the Culm Garden Village project. As part of this the Council had commissioned an employment and skills study to consider how the Culm Garden Village could support and contribute to further employment.

Discussion took place regarding:

• The need for consideration towards the likely salaries of potential employees and house prices locally.
• How new businesses would be attracted? It was explained that the Council was in a strong position to engage with businesses more widely.
• The Local Plan set out a mix of development on the site, it could not be amended to switch from ‘retail’ to ‘housing’ for example.
• The precise location of the areas being referred to which were set out in the Local Plan.
• Concerns regarding the need to improve connectivity and transport connections.
• A reminder not to focus purely on development at the junctions but for any development there to also provide visitor signposting to local towns and other local attractions.
• The need for a co-ordinated and integrated approach at J28 so as not to create a ‘hodge podge’ of projects with no overarching vision.
• The need to remember that J27 also fed Willand and parts of Halberton whose business interests needed to be protected.
• The need to ensure that businesses within local town centres were not detrimentally affected by development at the junctions.

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It was AGREED that a report would be brought back to the next meeting providing an update and allowing an opportunity for the Group to discuss ideas further.

Note: * Report previously circulated; copy attached to the signed minutes.