Cranbrook community hub secures £1.9m funding

Positive step for community development decade after conception

A community hub first conceived for Cranbrook a decade ago has secured funding to help the plans finally come to life.

The Cranbox scheme, aimed at bringing community and commercial spaces under one roof, is to receive £1.9 million.

The cash is from a £16 million pot from the government as part of the devolution of services from central government to Devon County Council and Torbay Council.

Cranbox, which is likely to be located north of Cranbrook high street, is expected to be modular in style, potentially using shipping containers for its construction.

The scheme will be a much-welcomed addition to Cranbrook given the town has waited years longer than planned for amenities and services.

Its first supermarket is only just now on the cusp of opening, and Cranbox is only making progress a decade after it was conceived in 2014.

Councillors on East Devon District Council’s asset management forum were told that efforts were being made to bring the Cranbox scheme to fruition.

Naomi Harnett, corporate lead for major projects, said: “We’ve been really trying to move the delivery of the town centre forward for many years, and this project was first identified a decade ago.

“We are now in a happy place where the supermarket is soon to be completed and some town centre shops have opened with more coming soon.

“We’re hoping to deliver Cranbox in 2025.”

The update comes as Morrisons has confirmed it will open in Cranbrook on Thursday 12 December.