FAQs

The name ‘Garden Village’ comes from the Garden City movement of urban planning, created at the end of the 19th century. The concept was all about well-planned, sustainable places – something we want our Garden Village to be.  As development of the Garden Village is be locally-led, we set our own Garden Village principles for Culm and will ensure they are at the heart of decision-making.

Read more about Garden City principles

It is anticipated that the Garden Village will have up to 5,000 new homes with employment space, community facilities and sports and leisure facilities. Land for the first 1,750 houses within the Plan period (up to 2033), and at least 850 after that, is allocated under the Mid Devon Local Plan and the proposed boundaries for this phase are known.  Should be project proceed, the remainder of the Garden Village is proposed to be allocated under a future development plan such as then next Mid Devon Local Plan.  The boundary of this larger area has not yet been established and will be subject to public consultation.

Land allocated under the Mid Devon Local Plan

The Culm Garden Village project is locally led: community organisations are involved in how the Garden Village develops. The Garden Village will be a sustainable new community with excellent links to jobs, affordable new homes, self-build plots, lots of green space and waterways, sports and leisure facilities, new schools, shops and healthcare.  Design quality will be important as will low carbon housing and renewable energy.  Open spaces and community facilities will be managed for the long term, and the community will be encouraged to get involved in looking after their own spaces and assets.  

The Garden Village will be designed with the community and with the future community’s needs in mind. There will be all the usual facilities you expect to see: jobs, schools, healthcare, shops and cafes, pubs, and lots of open spaces, but it will be designed for the future with an aspiration for highly energy-efficient buildings with low cost living in mind, green transport options, and the opportunity to build your own house or customise one.   Residents will be encouraged to play an active part in how the Garden Village develops and look after it into the future.

As yet, we don’t know for sure. The East Cullompton Masterplan guides how the Garden Village will be developed, for example, where the houses, employment, roads, schools and healthcare will go, where the green space and parks will go, how the Garden Village will be delivered, how it will link with the surrounding transport network and countryside, and how it can be integrated with Cullompton town.  We will also be producing design guidance and a phasing and delivery strategy.

Garden Village doesn’t necessarily mean big gardens, but it does mean a green approach to development, lots of green space and places to enjoy outdoor activities.  Our intention is develop a place that has the right balance between urban areas and countryside, the existing landscaping providing the background to the development.

Yes. There will be a mix of different types of housing to buy and to rent, at market and affordable rates … and there will be opportunity to build your own home or have one custom built to your own specification.  Homes will be adaptable to encourage long term occupation - which helps to build a strong community.

The Mid Devon Local Plan Review provides for at least 32,000 square metres of new employment space at the Garden Village (providing around 1,100 new jobs), and more is planned to be allocated a later development plan.

The Garden Village is located next to the existing Kingsmill Industrial Estate and is close to the M5.  New public transport links are being explored to provide fast bus transport to Exeter and a new railway link to Exeter and Taunton and beyond. 

The Garden Village has the potential to provide flexible living space that can adapt to home working, supported by a number of work hubs and fast broadband.

Please see the Infrastructure page for details of new transport infrastructure proposed for the area. The Garden Village will have an emphasis on walking and cycling, and new public transport is planned, for example new buses and a new railway station.

One of the key challenges is to ensure that the Garden Village is integrated with Cullompton itself and has good physical and social links with the town.

We are expecting planning permissions to be submitted in 2023 and building could start from 2025 onwards.

Planning permission has been granted for a new Town Centre Relief Road along the edge of the CCA fields.  Mid Devon District Council has been awarded £10 million by Homes England towards the cost of delivering this road and is seeking financing for the remainder of the cost, including from planned development in Cullompton.

Mid Devon is also working with Devon County Council and National Highways to plan improvements to junction 28 the M5.  A series of options are currently being considered.

There are also plans to open reopen the railway station and Network Rail has said that it anticipates the station being open in 2025.

There will also be a need to consider the local road network and how this functions.  This will be done through work on design coding, a phasing and delivery strategy and planning applications.