Cash injection for new community hub in Devon

East Devon District Council said a new community hub was set to receive a £1.9m funding boost from the government

A community hub in Devon is set to be built thanks to a £1.9m funding boost from the government.

East Devon District Council said the hub in Cranbrook, near Exeter, was first suggested "a decade ago" and aimed to bring community and commercial spaces under one roof.

The funding has come from a £16m pot from the government as part of the devolution of services from central government to Devon County Council and Torbay Council.

The council said the hub, which will be called Cranbox, was likely to be located north of Cranbrook high street and shipping containers potentially used for its construction.

'Moving forward'

Morrisons also announced it was opening on 12 December and will be the first supermarket to open in the new town.

Corporate lead for major projects Naomi Harnett told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “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.”