Enterprise Development Strategy for Cranbrook

Cranbrook’s keenly anticipated draft Enterprise Development Strategy (EDS) has now been received by East Devon District Council. The strategy was commissioned by the council alongside the community-led Our Place plan from independent consultants Ash Futures Ltd, in order that the two initiatives could work together, helping both the council and the community build a better and more economically viable Cranbrook.

The Our Place plan is an entirely community driven strategy, which was commissioned by the community for the community. It sets out how a community enterprise company could assist the development of economic activity by taking on assets in Cranbrook, including community owned photo voltaic panels, small commercial and retail units and enterprise centres, whose income can be ploughed directly back into the community.

The community enterprise company will have access to a range of funding and the work so far has been supported by government funding as part of the localism agenda, which gives local communities greater ability to govern themselves and retain cash flow. Localism has an impressive record of success – for example 100% of community owned pubs remain open after five years, while 99% of community shops remain open after five years.

The EDS recommends that we work with the community enterprise company, because it has greater access to funding, is able to conduct business and enterprise activity more freely than a town council and is not politically motivated.

The Our Place plan has already been delivered to the community and is being finalised for distribution and registration with Locality (who administer government funding for community development).

How the EDS has been developed

The preparation of the EDS has been informed by a number of consultation events, a series of meetings, a workshop and a questionnaire, which was sent out to residents in December last year and January 2015.

It focuses on creating a dynamic action plan that can be implemented immediately and helps define Cranbrook’s purpose within the Growth Point and the opportunities that arise from it.
Great economic potential

Cranbrook has the opportunity to build its own identity as a small enterprise town – in fact it needs create its own identity and to take control of its own economic activity if it is not to become just another massive housing estate. If it doesn’t create a sustainable community of any kind, its population will be entirely dependent on external economic activity.

Cranbrook’s identity will become much clearer once it has a defined purpose, which is where the EDS will help it move forward. Currently, there aren’t enough small spaces within East Devon and Exeter for commercial activity leaving a gap in the market for a small enterprise town, which is what we want Cranbrook to become.

This means that Cranbrook could become the start-up capital of this part of the South West with the ability to create its own local shops, offices and businesses. Ultimately, it will not have to rely only upon other external businesses or large chains to supply its commercial or retail needs.

Commercial activity

The EDS proposes setting up small business hubs/enterprise centres, as well as the supply of small low-rent units for start-ups, and we have already had extremely positive feedback from the new community partners about these ideas. The strategy also recommends the use of business support services and the council and growth point team are already talking to potential providers.

Flexibility

The EDS will call for flexibility to be built into Cranbrook’s future development, so that the town can respond to whatever changes lie ahead.
Practical steps forward

As part of the Section 106 agreements for the increase in size of Cranbrook, we will be starting negotiations with the developers to support the development of a sustainable community in Cranbrook. Based around the recommendations of the EDS, this will include negotiating land for employment spaces, as well as deciding the type and positioning of those spaces.

In this way we will be sharing the responsibility of delivering Cranbrook’s development between the community, the consortium (developers) and the council. We want to reduce the burden on the developers by asking them to allow the community to become partners in the development and provide some things for themselves.

Timescale

Over the coming weeks, officers will be working on the document to finalise it and we envisage that it will be ready to present to cabinet either in April or immediately after the elections. The EDS must go to cabinet because we are looking at incorporating new ideas that have not formed part of council thinking for Cranbrook up until now.

Councillor Andrew Moulding, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Partnerships said: “It is wonderful that the community is being given the opportunity to build their own economy. We are 100% behind supporting this enterprise strategy – the development of an enterprise town in East Devon is such good news.”