Rural Experience Visit

The day after submitting his letter to the Prime Minister on rural issues, Dr Stuart Burgess, the Government’s Rural Advocate and Chairman of the Commission, led a visit by the Commission for Rural Communities to Exmoor and North Devon . The Commission for Rural Communities latest Rural Experience visit was to Exmoor National Park and was led by the Chief Planner Steve Quatermain. The visit, held on the 4th and 5th of March, was attended by 17 delegates including Ann Skippers, the President of the Royal Town Planning Institute and David Hackforth, the President of the Planning Officers Society. It explored the issue of planning within the context of the park but also the effect of planning constraints on areas just outside. It highlighted two particular important issues involved with rural planning policy: that the planning system can deliver good outcomes even if approvals are a departure from written policy and there is a need to understand the linkages between local plans and the Regional Spatial Strategy.

Representatives from Exmoor National Park Authority were amongst those invited to meet Dr Burgess and David Wyborn, the Authority’s head of planning and community was on hand to show the delegation recent examples of planning successes in the National Park that are helping to respond to local needs and sustain local communities.

The delegation travelled to Exmoor to view the new ' state of the art ' health centre in Dulverton where David Wyborn explained how the Authority’s planning officers worked with the doctors over some years to identify a suitable site and build the striking new surgery within the constraints of an awkward space.

Arriving at Cutcombe Market, the delegation met up with Peter Huntley from Exmoor Livestock Farmers to learn about the development plans for the site. Work has recently commenced to build a new up to date livestock market, vital to local farmers, together with new business development and 25 new homes, 12 of which will be for people in local housing need.

The group also visited local company Shearwell's that has developed from a small business in a lambing shed to an international high-tec business with customers in more than 20 countries and employing more than 50 people. "As the business has grown we have worked with them through the various planning stages so that they could develop and expand and keep high value jobs in the National Park" said David Wyborn, head of planning. "This is an excellent example of how we try to work with all local businesses that are keen to stay in the area and expand."

Commenting on the visit Dr Burgess said: "I am delighted that Steve Quartermain, the Chief Planner, agreed to lead the Commission for Rural Communities’ latest Rural Experience visit to Exmoor National Park. The visit explored the issue of planning within the context of the National Park but also the effect of planning constraints on areas just outside. It highlighted two particularly important issues involved with rural planning policy: exceptions to planning guidance and the linkage between local plans and the Regional Spatial Strategy.

“In the case of exceptions Cutcombe market in the centre of Exmoor had fallen into disrepair and over £1million was needed to modernise it. The park achieved this by giving the go ahead to a mixed development consisting of 25 homes and some business units against their own policies, a move I applaud. In South Molton delegates were told about the growth targets for the town and nearby Barnstaple and how the different targets in the local plan and the Regional Spatial Strategy could best be reconciled through the planning process. Both are excellent examples of what can be achieved in regenerating rural areas working within the existing planning system.

“As a result of the visit all the delegates have committed to an action plan which will be followed up by the CRC within a month. In this way we hope to spread good practice widely within the planning community and to also identify a new generation of 'can do' rural champions able to use the planning system to meet the needs of rural communities.”

Commenting on the visit Steve Quartermain said “I was delighted to see some really positive outcomes of the planning process, and it is important for developers and planners to remember the planning system is about delivering appropriate development and this can sometimes mean departing from the script. The planning process allows for this and I urge local authorities to use the tools and approaches that are available to ensure that the aspirations of their communities are realised."

Dr Nigel Stone, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park, said “We were very pleased to host the Rural Experience visit to Exmoor National Park. I hope that, as well as providing an insight into the particular needs of rural areas such as Exmoor, we were also able to demonstrate the excellent work of our planning team in supporting the development of local businesses and helping meet the need for affordable housing. National Parks are usually thought of as taking a restrictive approach on new development whereas, in fact, we take as imaginative and flexible approach as we can so that we can sustain successful local communities in these special landscapes".

As a result of the visit all the delegates have committed to an action plan which will be followed up by the CRC within a month. This will help to spread good practice widely within the planning community and to also identify a new generation of 'can do' rural champions able to use the planning system to meet the needs of rural communities.