Proposals for a large housing development with community facilities in Cranbrook were put on display to the public last week.

Local housebuilder Baker Estates plans to construct around 500 homes on land to the east of Gribble Lane and south of London Road – a site allocated for development as part of the Grange Expansion Area within the Cranbrook Plan. There will be ‘a bespoke range of open market homes meeting local identified housing requirements’, of which 15 per cent will be ‘affordable homes’.

Midweek Herald: Baker Estates' outline plan for part of the Grange site

The development will also include a community hall and a neighbourhood centre, which could accommodate shops and commercial space, along with public open spaces and allotments.

The southern part of the site will be dedicated as SANG (‘Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace’), for people to enjoy the natural environment. There will be accessible circular pathways and habitats for wildlife.

Midweek Herald: The site for Baker Estates' planned developmentBaker Estates said sustainable living sits at the heart of its planned development, with neighbourhoods designed to be walkable, good quality pedestrian and cycle links, and roads designed to incorporate bus services.

Two exhibitions were held in Cranbrook and Rockbeare last Thursday, April 25, so that local people could see the outline plans and talk to company representatives. Baker Estates had already met with Cranbrook and Rockbeare councillors to discuss their proposals.

Cranbrook resident Gillian White attended the exhibition at the Younghayes Centre and said: “I’m very passionate about Cranbrook and wanted to come along today to see Baker Estates’ plans. Overall, I’m very encouraged and supportive.”

Graham Hutton, Operations Director at Baker Estates, said: “We received some positive feedback from locals on our outline proposals and we’ll be looking to incorporate some of the suggestions into our proposal before we submit to East Devon District Council.

“An outline application determines the principle of development together with the means of access. If successful, we would then prepare more detailed plans which we would share with the community then come back to the community, prior to submitting a number of ‘reserved matters’ planning applications.”

The plans and all the information that was put on display at the exhibitions can be viewed on Baker Estates’ website. The deadline for feedback is Friday, May 10.

Meanwhile, planning permission has been granted for a major expansion of Cranbrook, including 1,435 homes and two  new schools - read more here: