Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Place and Economy on the Crediton Masterplan.

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Director of Place and Economy on the Crediton Masterplan.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

·         Cabinet was present at Crediton for this meeting to discuss the important document on the Crediton Masterplan.

·         The Masterplan supported both the Mid Devon Local Plan and the Crediton Neighbourhood Plan.

·         It drew on previous work that included the traffic and urban realm feasibility study commissioned by the Town Council.   

·         The masterplan had been informed by two rounds of public consultation that included staffed events, a permanent exhibition at the Town Council offices and direct approaches to over 400 organisations alongside an online questionnaire. 

·         The Town Council had been part of the process throughout and their ongoing input had proved invaluable in ensuring that the plan meets community aspirations.

·         The Terms of Reference for the Crediton Masterplan were drawn up in the Spring of 2023 with Crediton Town Council.  This was before the election of the new Mid Devon Liberal Democrat Administration in May 2023.  During the process of the last year there had been some criticism from Crediton Town Council.  This criticism had been unwarranted as there had been extensive consultation including a return to the Town Council which had resulted in a delay to tonight’s Masterplan being brought forward to Cabinet.

·         To this end the Stage 2 Consultation process included :-

                     I.        Online questionnaire; six weeks, 15/01/2024 – 26/02/2024.

                    II.        Key stakeholders meeting at the Boniface Centre.

                  III.        Two staffed public drop in events at the Boniface Centre.

                  IV.        Permanent exhibition at the Town Council Offices.

                   V.        Direct contact with over 400 organisations and individuals via the Council’s Local Plan Database.

                  VI.        Social media/ press releases.

                VII.        Planning Policy Advisory Group (PPAG) meeting to consider a Report and followed this up with a Town Centre Walk around (16/04/2024)

               VIII.        Further consideration by PPAG on June 26^th.

·         Generally there was broad support for all of the projects but the Council notes the sensitivity about the loss of on street car parking, particularly in the High Street and that any changes to Newcombes Meadow should seek to preserve its current peaceful ambience. It should also be noted that those projects would be subject to further consultation with all stakeholders. 

·         Next steps would be a mixture of early interventions (e.g. tree planting and replacement seating in Market Square), further studies (High Street and Newcombes as described above) and individual projects.

·         There was a good deal of work to be undertaken with the station and the growing demand for travel on the Tarka Line, where the number of travellers had doubled in the last 10years.  There were now early discussions with Great Western Railway in full and with the Community Hub in which the Crediton Heart project were interested.

·         The Delivery Plan would be used as a “living” document and would be subject to updates and amendments to guide not just the masterplan’s specific projects but also some which are not specifically land use related such as promoting tourism opportunities and supporting the business community.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         Great opportunities for the community to help shape the future of the town.

·         Enhancement of/planting of trees.

·         Concerns of the café play area and this not being used through certain periods of the year due to weather.

·         The impact on other cafes in the area and if it would be economically variable.

·         The history and car parking in the area.

·         Limited work opportunities in the area.

·         The concerns of Crediton becoming a commuting area for those going to work in Exeter.

·         The parking within the Newcombe area or places to be able to stop.

RESOLVED that:

1.    Cabinet Members noted the comments received at the Stage 2 public consultation (Appendices 2 and 3), the comments of PPAG (Appendix 4) and supported the proposed changes as set out in the report.

2.    The Cabinet recommended to Council that;

i)             The Crediton Town Centre Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document and Delivery Plan be adopted; and

ii)            The Equality Impact Assessment (Appendix 5), Strategic Environmental Screening report (Appendix 6), and the Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report (Appendix 7) be noted.

(Proposed by Cllr S Keable and seconded by Cllr S Clist)

Note: * Report previously circulated