Skip to content

Cullompton’s infrastructure plans progress with new cricket square


Cullompton Cricket Pitch

Work to relocate Cullompton’s Cricket Ground – a necessary first step for the delivery of a relief future road – began this week.

The route of a future relief road route would pass through the existing Cullompton cricket pitch.

As the foundation for a high-quality pitch is laid, it will take more than a year to fully embed and reach the standard required for future competitive play.

MDDC expect the work to be completed by the end of September 2024.

Although funding for a new relief road has not yet been secured, Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) has submitted a business case to Homes England and MDDC hopes to know more by the time the work has been completed.

It’s a small – but vital – step in ensuring swift delivery of a relief road should funding be approved.

The relief road is key to improving the town centre and town itself; it will help reduce air pollution associated with traffic congestion and is vital to unlock housing in the area.

Any future schme would be delivered in partnership with us as the highways authority.

A survey conducted by MDDC last year found that 92 per cent of respondents supported the delivery of a relief road.

Councillor Steve Keable, Mid Devon District Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration, said:

“The cricket square is just the beginning. This development is a symbol of the town’s growth and ambition, and we look forward to seeing it come to life.

“We hope that by demonstrating our serious commitment to seeing the timely delivery of this critical infrastructure for Cullompton and the Culm Garden Village that the Government will do its utmost in enabling the delivery of the relief road and, in due course, upgrades to Junction 28 as well as the railway station.”

Cllr Steve Keable

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said:

“The Town Centre Relief Road is essential to unlocking Cullompton’s potential and this is the first step in its delivery. During this time the existing cricket pitch will remain playable until the new one is ready.”

This cricket pitch forms part of a wider state of the art sports development planned for the Culm Garden Village. More than 100 hectares of land has been proposed for green space and sports facilities including additional cricket pitches, tennis courts, football pitches, and more.

The land holds special significance in terms of local cricket with the family of Josh Farley, a local county cricketer at Bradninch Cricket Club, currently farming the land.

James Turner, Director of Lightwood Land, said:

“The delivery of the cricket square is a small but very significant step that will help enable the delivery of the much-needed town centre relief road and a fantastic facility for Cullompton Cricket Club and the town.

“The delivery of the square is the culmination of many years of hard work by Mid Devon Officers, Councillors, Cullompton Cricket Club, Devon County Officers, landowner and Lightwood all working collaboratively to make this happen. I look forward to enabling the delivery of more sporting facilities over the coming years.”


Top