
Welcome
Waddeton Park Ltd. welcomes you to our consultation website for our proposed development on land to the north of Sowton in East Devon, formerly part of Venn Farm. We are currently in the early stages of bringing forward an outline planning application for new commercial floorspace for the area, meeting the need of a wide range of different businesses and end users.
Our proposal for land north of Sowton village will deliver much needed commercial space to help meet the employment demand from the growing communities of Cranbrook, Tithebarn, and others in the area. The Western edge of East Devon is already home to key employment hubs such as Exeter Science Park and Exeter Airport, However, as the region continues to grow with new housing developments, it is essential to expand employment opportunities to support local communities.
The land north of Sowton village, formerly part of Venn Farm, has the potential to significantly boost the region’s economic output, delivering major benefits in both the short and long term. As a commercial space, the site, will be a modern, adaptable employment hub designed to meet evolving business needs while enhancing work-life balance. The development will feature flexible commercial space alongside key amenities, including a creche to support working parents and on-site gym, providing employees with opportunities to stay active during the day.
Our proposals at a glance:
- 28,300sqm of commercial space split across B2 (General Industrial), B8 (Storage or Distribution) and E(g) (Industrial Process) uses.
- Additional amenities on the site could include a gym, cafe and creche. These facilities would be available for use by visitors to the site and local residents.
- Creation of 1,040 jobs for local residents, contributing a total of £74.5 million to the local economy.
- Significant areas of landscaping and planting, including a retained area of farmland for recreational use.
- Primary access to the site off Sowton Lane, as well as the opportunity to deliver connectivity improvements, through new or enhanced footpaths.
- Employment and training, as well as procurement, opportunities created during construction.
We believe that local feedback is important to well thought out and sensitively designed developments. The views shared with us as part of our public consultation process will now be considered alongside a wide variety of technical reports and surveys to help refine our plans before a planning application is submitted to East Devon District Council in the near future.
The need for new employment and commercial space – Creating jobs and delivering investment in East Devon
According to the Office of National Statistics, around 1,500 people aged 16 and over in East Devon were unemployed in the year ending December 2023.
If consented, and once operational, the development of new employment and commercial space at the site could support up to 1,040 jobs, with it being anticipated that around 400 of these roles would be filled by East Devon residents. Furthermore, it is estimated that the construction of the proposed development could generate up to 300 jobs, with over 150 of these positions being filled by East Devon residents.
A report commissioned to assess the impact of our proposed development also estimates that the plans could represent an investment of over £74 million into the local and regional economy.
Delivering much needed employment and commercial space at the site therefore presents a prime opportunity to drive further economic growth in East Devon, creating new jobs and attracting businesses looking to expand or relocate. The site’s strategic location means that there are already strong transport connections, while the delivery of on-site amenities such as a creche and gym will make it an attractive workplace for local residents.