Eden still interested in visitor scheme at motorway junction
THE team behind the Eden Project is still interested in creating a new development at junction 27 of the M5, councillors have been told.
In 2020, Mid Devon’s local plan outlined how a visitor centre, hotel, outdoor adventure zone and shopping outlet could be among the facilities to be considered on the 71 hectares of land near Uffculme.
It comes after initial plans were revealed years ago for a £200 million surf lake and a ‘mini’ Eden Project, backed by the Cornwall landmark’s co-creator Sir Tim Smit and other business partners. However, a new report says the Covid pandemic and market changes mean no further plans have progressed, raising the question of “whether changes are required to some elements of the scheme in order to support delivery.”
Eden was recently awarded £250,000 from the UK Community Renewal Fund to allow it to refine and develop proposals for the site, with the report stressing that “interest in the scheme does remain” from the company. This work began recently and is expected to be completed later this year, according to the update, presented this week to a meeting of Mid Devon District Council’s ruling cabinet.
The council is also likely to start ‘enabling discussions’ in the coming weeks “with and between landowners and prospective occupiers” to get further clarity and consider what action is needed to progress work.
“The outcome of such discussions will clearly be important and will allow all parties to better understand the timescale of any development,” the report said. An update was also provided on development around junction 28 at Cullompton, which Mid Devon’s local plan identifies as “the principal focus of development within the district.”
Up to 5,000 homes could be built at Culm Garden Village, east of the town, while work is progressing well on the proposed new Cullompton railway station, located off junction 28. Councillors were told that a lack of commercial premises in Devon and high demand means that “opportunity does therefore exist for further commercial development to progress – driving economic growth and job creation within the district.”
As part of the Culm Garden Village project the council has instructed an employment and skills study to consider how the village can contribute to further employment growth in and around junction 28. It will see how this can be done in a way which supports new development, while reducing car ownership and longer commuting. Provisional findings are expected soon.
Councillor Richard Chesterton, cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration, told the meeting: “Whilst progress may have been slower than anticipated in the recent time, work is underway in relation to development opportunities at our motorway junctions and they do continue to offer opportunities for further economic development and growth within the district.”
Deputy leader Bob Evans said: “I think one of the really vital key elements here, to the opportunities that definitely lie at both junctions for this authority, is that engagement is key and listening to the key stakeholders – that includes residents and local businesses – to what they would see as the key opportunities.”
But Councillor John Downes, chair of the council’s economic policy development group, was concerned that both junctions, due to their close proximity, “could offer similar services to the detriment of each” and wanted them to be viewed “in the whole.” He said the council should be thinking “outside the box” about what to do at both sites, in particular junction 27, and is concerned that the Cullompton site could end up “confused and piecemeal” because of what is already there and what is planned.
Leader Bob Deed replied: “I appreciate that dealing with these two junctions holistically is the way forward.”