Cranbrook boundary review will have to wait at least six months

A decision on where the Cranbrook parish boundary will be will have to wait at least six months until an inspector has signed off a plan that outlines the area’s next developments.\

A petition was put forward by Cranbrook Town Council requesting that East Devon District Council (EDDC) cabinet conduct a ‘community governance review’, defining what areas of the surrounding countryside will become part of the new town.

The matter was discussed at the latest EDDC cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 3 November following consultation with all affected parishes and with consideration of the current status of the Cranbrook Plan.

The Cranbrook Plan which looks to define the future expansion areas for the town is currently being looked at by a Government inspector and a report back is currently awaited. Current indications are that this report will be received around the end of the year. 

The cabinet papers mentioned how when communities expand some new homes can end up being built across boundaries, meaning some neighbours are in different parishes from one another. 

When this happens, councils are advised to consider undertaking a ‘community governance review – this is assuming that all the houses have been built (or at least have permission) and that there is a degree of certainty and permanence in terms of development on the ground.

For this reason, councillors voted for the boundary review to be discontinued and invited Cranbrook Town Council to reapply for it at a later date, after the Cranbrook Plan has been signed off.