Farmland near an East Devon village could become a 30-football-pitch-sized industrial estate if plans go ahead. Waddeton Park Ltd has launched a public consultation until June 24th to gather views before submitting an outline planning application.
Farmland near a quiet East Devon village could become an industrial estate the size of 30 football pitches if planning permission is granted.
Waddeton Park Ltd, a land promoter, buyer, and investor company that works with landowners to secure planning permissions and sales, has launched a public consultation from now until Tuesday, June 24, in a bid to draw up outline planning application for commercial, industrial and office use, such as storage or distribution.
The planning company wants to hear views from residents and the community ahead of submitting an outline application ‘in the coming months’.
The Sowton Lane site, on land at Venn’s Farm, is north of Sowton Village, around 19.3 hectares – approximately 47 acres – currently used for agriculture, and backs onto the A30, with the Exeter Science Park across the dual carriageway.
The proposed main access road to reach the new industrial estate is set out on Sowton Lane, a quiet country lane popular with dog walkers and horse riders.
Sections of existing hedgerow will be ripped out to make way for the road and site access.
And artificial lighting could be installed for at two new entrances to the site, it has been revealed.
The land promoter said the site was currently ‘intensively managed agricultural land’, believing the proposed development would have ‘limited’ impact on wildlife.
The land investment company said the development would provide ‘much-needed’ commercial space for office, industrial, and distribution uses, offering ‘critical employment opportunities’ in the area and ‘long-term economic sustainability in the region’.
It said the land was ‘strategically located’ with direct access to key transport links, and believed the site could provide around 1,000 jobs.
Waddeton Park said the development could include a gym and creche, an area for ‘recreational use’, a buffer of trees around the site edge, plus tree and wildflower planting.
The outline proposals include:
·28,300sqm of commercial space split across general industrial, storage or distribution, plus industrial process uses.
·Additional amenities could include a gym and creche. For use by site visitors and nearby residents.
·Creation of 1,040 jobs for local residents.
·Areas of landscaping and planting; a retained area of farmland for recreational use.
·A 15m tree buffer around the edge of the site.
·Retaining a field for tree planting, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers, free to use local people and site employees.
·Site boundary ‘buffers’ for wildlife and bats
·Bird and bat boxes, bee bricks, bug hotels across the development.
A spokesperson for Waddeton Park Ltd. said: “The launch of this consultation marks an important step in bringing forward high-quality, flexible commercial space at Venn Farm.
“This is a strategically located site with the potential to deliver significant economic benefits for East Devon, supporting over 1,000 jobs and providing vital infrastructure for local and international business growth.
“We’re looking forward to hearing from the community to help shape a development that meets local needs and delivers real, long-term value.”
For more information on the proposed industrial estate, and to leave your consultation feedback, see here.
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