Parking fears issued amid trio of Cranbrook housing plans

Fears about parking have been aired ahead of a trio of housing plans for a Devon town that could add nearly 200 homes.

Two of the plans, around the Tillhouse Road area of Cranbrook, interlock and so are essentially being considered together.
One part of the scheme, submitted by East Devon Community Partners, would mean 31 homes in the area, while the scheme by Persimmon Homes would add 61 homes.
Separately, plans by Taylor Wimpey for land off Court Royal and Badger Way would bring a total of 81 homes on two parcels of land.
Cranbrook Town Council had initially objected to the Persimmon part of the plans in 2022, but now said it had “no objection to the principle” of development of the sites.
However, it urged the inclusion of a town centre controlled parking zone as part of the application, as well as ways to protect green spaces from unauthorised parking.
Councillor Kevin Blakey (Independent), one of Cranbrook’s representatives on East Devon District Council, echoed concerns about parking that are also shared by his fellow ward members Cllr Kim Bloxham and Cllr Sam Hawkins..
“There is inadequate parking provision which will lead to conflict between residents and will result in overspill into town centre roads causing increasing congestion, particularly at start and finish times at the Education Campus,” Cllr Blakey said in comments included in the planning report.
“The situation is already difficult there, and inadequate provision will make it worse. Attempting to force people to walk or cycle everywhere by reducing the number of parking spaces is doomed to fail and will result in more social unrest, poor parking is already the dominant subject of residents’ complaints.”
Cranbrook Town Council has also withdrawn its opposition to Taylor Wimpey’s plans, but once again still has reservations about where residents will park.
It noted that East Devon District Council, as the planning authority, did not want driveways and garages to be accessed from the main local route into town, and so had suggested parking at the rear of the proposed properties.
“However, unless parking restrictions are brought forward along town centre main local routes (MLR), residents will routinely park along the MLR in front of their homes,” the town council said.
“Whilst not a part of this application, [East Devon] is urged to consider the inclusion of parking restrictions along the MLR frontages to avoid highway obstruction, with Yonder Acre Way an example of where these concerns are evidenced.
All the schemes are being recommended for approval by East Devon District Council’s planning officers, and its planning committee will decide whether to approve or reject them next week (23 September)
The Tillhouse Road plans are near to the Cranbrook Education Campus, while a part of the scheme is located on the opposite side of Tillhouse Road and Crannaford Lane.
The land is currently undeveloped but does sit within an area that is earmarked as acceptable for homes to be built on.
Some concerns have been flagged by planning officers in relation to adaptable ground floor space in some of the prospective homes, and parking provision as well as garage size.
But the report acknowledges that these concerns are potentially outweighed by the fact the schemes would bring forward some affordable housing and also ensure essential cash is secured and out towards community facilities, such as town council offices, a children’s centre, youth centre and library.