The proposal was unanimously approved
A digital representation of what Cranbrook’s new leisure centre should look like.(Image: East Devon District Council)
Residents of Devon’s newest town will now get a long-awaited leisure centre as part of wide-ranging plans that have been waived through.
The multi-faceted scheme proposed a leisure centre on one part of a massive site near the town’s Morrisons supermarket near Tillhouse Road, with another portion being for a neighbourhood health centre and a final plot for either commercial use or emergency service facilities.
Some of Cranbrook’s residents moved into the town in 2012, and so will be relieved that the plans have been approved by East Devon District Council’s planning committee.
The leisure centre will have a 25-metre pool with six lanes, and an adjacent learner pool, as well as a fitness suite, studios, soft play area, a library, and community and clinical spaces as well as other facilities such as outdoor seating.
The building will use brown-red bricks, while embracing cladding around the fitness centre and floor to ceiling glass in the cafe and atrium area.
A digital representation of what Cranbrook’s new leisure centre should look like.(Image: East Devon District Council)
It will also include solar panels on the roof, and boast a state-of-the-art micro filtration system, which the planning committee heard required less chlorine, meaning a reduced chlorine smell outside the centre.
A cycle way will link Elm Drive to Badger Way, with a connection to Crannaford Lane too, with social areas and seating available here too.
Some concerns were aired about whether the 127 free parking spaces at the leisure centre would be sufficient, whether there should be more solar panels across the development, and whether more electric vehicle charging points should be installed from the outset.
But the general mood towards the scheme was supportive.
“It’s about time this is done,” said Councillor Brian Bailey (Conservative, Exmouth Littleham).
“People have been waiting a long time and I am very much in favour of this.”
The existing parcel of land where Cranbrook’s new leisure centre will be.(Image: East Devon District Council)
His enthusiasm was more than matched by Cranbrook’s members, with Councillor Kevin Blakey (Independent, Cranbrook) stating he “fully supported” the plans, hoping the committee “approves the application for this key facility for the town and wider district”.
His Cranbrook colleague, Councillor Kim Bloxham (Independent, Cranbrook) agreed the plan should be approved, but echoed fears about the size of the car park.
“Residents are still concerned about that,” she said.
Cllr Bloxham added that she was “concerned” space was being left for EV chargers but not all of them were being installed at the outset.
This detail was echoed by planning committee member Councillor Ian Barlow (Independent, Sidmouth Town), who remarked that “putting something in now [at the construction stage] is cheap but later on, it is almost impossible”.
The leisure centre part of the application was for full planning permission, meaning all its details were agreed.
For the neighbourhood health centre and the third plot, which will house either commercial areas or emergency service facilities, outline planning was secured, meaning a more detailed planning application will follow.
Cllr Bloxham said she understood the emergency service had land allocated but that the council needed to “push and get them to make a decision whether to take it up or not”.
She added that she believed care also needed to be taken when considering the third plot within the area, especially around the potential use of it for light industry.
“This is the gateway to the town so we need to be very careful when we come to plan that bit at a later stage, because we don’t want people to see that when they are coming into the town,” she said.
The planning committee unanimously approved the proposals.