East Devon District Council (EDDC) has paused plans for a 'second Cranbrook' to be built near Westpoint. 

EDDC says the government is currently consulting on the number of houses needed for the district to reach the central government's housing target for the area.

Councillor Paul Arnott, leader of the council, put forward a motion that no further discussions or decisions on potential sites take place until the Government makes its decision.

EDDC’s Strategic Planning Committee agreed the motion, which means council officers will only continue technical work needed to support production of the Local Plan, such as water, sewerage and other environmental matters.

Cllr Arnott said: “Last year, our council wrote to the Government calling for an urgent re-analysis of inflated housing need numbers imposed on the communities of East Devon.

“Pending any reply, we continued with the Local Plan consultation as required by law.

“This week - at the first opportunity to do so - I proposed that we put the sites aspect of the work on hold until what we hope will be confirmation that our housing numbers will be greatly reduced.

“I was very pleased that this won cross-party support. The ball is now in the Government's court to deliver a new National Planning Policy Framework.”