Cranbrook

History

The idea and requirements to construct houses on greenfield land in the area were first proposed in 1995, and appeared in both the Devon 2001-2016 Structure Plan and the East Devon Local Plan 1995-2001. The first houses were occupied as St Martin's C of E Primary school was completed in 2012 and at least 500 houses had been occupied by December 2013. As of March 2021, the Cranbrook Parish had rapidly grown to a population of 6,743. and the 2014 timetables included an additional two minutes for trains passing the station. However, detailed design of the station began only in summer 2014, and construction started that autumn with opening initially due in spring 2015, but problems with a sewer and railway signalling postponed the opening for a then unknown duration. In August 2015, the opening was announced for October. By October 2015, it transpired that the station would not open until 13 December 2015. The station cost £5m to build and serves the West Of England Line. In September 2018, Cranbrook hosted the start of Stage 2 of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain cycle race. The second phase includes a second primary school and a secondary school as part of the all-through Cranbrook Education Campus, as well as a town centre. Promises were given in late 2021 by East Devon District Council that an agreement had been reached for a Morrisons supermarket to be built south of the Cranberry Farm pub, to be open in September 2023. The supermarket and accompanying shops were delayed, with the supermarket opening in December 2024 and respective retail units opening at similar dates The first 7 retail units are now either fully functional, or will be, with only one unit left empty- and the nursery is expected to be open for the next school year in September.