East Devon expands to focus on neighbourhood planning

East Devon District Council has expanded its planning team to help it harness the support of locals in producing a raft of neighbourhood plans.

Tim Spurway has joined the local authority as neighbourhood planning officer.

He previously worked as a transport planner at Cheltenham Borough Council following a planning degree at Oxford Brookes University. 

He will support local communities with the production of neighbourhood plans, ensuring they pass statutory stages and meet legal requirements.

Planning policy manager Matt Dickins told Planning: “East Devon is an area of growth, particularly on the fringes; the new town of Cranbrook is being developed and there's definitely a jobs agenda.

“But we also live in a beautiful part of the world, with much of our landscape falling into Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so there are plenty of conservation considerations and issues.

“Meanwhile we have an articulate workforce, many of them retired and they want to do the best for their environment, so there's lots of work for us in planning.”

Dickins said nationally recognised research showed East Devon scored top of all 325 districts in its quality of life score. 

“Our appreciation of this quality of life is reflected in our ambition to keep East Devon an outstanding place to live and work.

“We plan carefully for a sustainable future by delivering jobs and good local homes for people.”

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