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Supermarket set to open in Devon's new town centre

BBC A sign with writing at the top stating "Cranbrook Town Centre" in white writing on a purple background. Below is a map of Cranbrook, with writing saying 'Plots TC 2,3 & 4 available". In the background are new white houses and a large green space. There is a road to the right, with another brown and white building in the distance.BBC
Morrisons confirmed it would open its new store in Cranbrook in early 2025 or sooner

The opening of a new supermarket in a Devon new town will be the beginning of a "vibrant and much used town centre", a local councillor says.

Morrisons has confirmed it was "working hard" to open the store between Badger Way and Tilllhouse Road in Cranbrook, near Exeter, in early 2025 or sooner.

East Devon District Councillor for Cranbrook and town council member Kevin Blakey said that, despite the long delays, he believed the opening was "worth the wait".

He said the new supermarket would allow people to shop locally, rather than having travel to Ottery St Mary and Exeter.

A large dark building with large windows at the front behind silver fencing. Behing the fencing is a red brick pavement, and there is stairs leading up to the large building, which is set to be the new Morrisons. On either side of the image, there is new residential homes which are light brown at the top and brick at the bottom. There are also benches in front of the new residential buildings.
East Devon District Council admitted there had been delays to the opening of the new supermarket

The council said work for the new town centre, which began in October 2022, was set to includes shops, a nursery, residential apartments, a market square and the supermarket.

Mr Blakey said the design and the layout "looked good" and, come the new year, it would be a "massive improvement for many" nearby.

He said: "Some people have argued that it has just been a vast housing estate, and there is an argument for that; but the economics come into play here, which is the money doesn't appear out of nowhere.

A red brick and light brown new build with 12 windows at the front on the second and first floor. There is fencing surrounding the new building with a black tarmac pathway on the other side. There is also a green wheelie bin to the left inside of the fencing with a red brick wall
A Morrisons spokesperson said the new store would create 75 local jobs for Cranbrook

"It comes from development, the infrastructure around Cranbrook and any other developments that come from selling houses.

"[For] retailers, there has to be enough people resident here to make it worthwhile opening"

Mr Blakey said he believed the supermarket would be the biggest part of the town centre and, economically, the most important, helping, with other shop units, to let the town benefit from an increased footfall.

He said: "It is the beginnings of what we are pretty certain will be a vibrant and much used town centre; not just for the people who live in Cranbrook, but for those in the surrounding villages which, perhaps... do not even have a village shop anymore."

He added the whole development was created based on it being "the first town in Devon for 500 years, adding it was "never going to be built overnight".

Morrisons said: "We are looking forward to welcoming customers and we’re working hard to open the store very early next year, or sooner, if regulations permit us to do so."

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