A COMMUNITY interest company has been granted planning permission to use a strip of land near Crediton railway station as a “community space”.

Previously used for allotments until 2015, the Turning Tides Project took over the site off Four Mills Lane in 2020.

It uses it to grow vegetables for its tea rooms at the station and for outdoor crafting and music.

Now that the plans have been approved, the CIC can build a multi-use timber shed, a wood-crafting shelter, a rain shelter, an outdoor prep shelter and composting toilets.

The structures will be made from reclaimed and “upcycled” materials and be built around the site in addition to several existing buildings.

It can also now build an outdoor performing space and install solar panels.

Granting planning permission, Mid Devon District Council said “the development of new community facilities will provide a local community benefit”.

It added that “the site will be easily accessible by the local community and well related to the settlement of Crediton”.

The Turning Tides Project aims to give equal access to music, the arts and life in general to people with learning disabilities and autism.

It provides one-to-one and shared support services, creative sessions, training and evaluation services, events catering and more.

It also runs the Crediton Station Tea Rooms, open six days a week for rail customers and locals alike. It has a function room available for bookings.

You can see the application on Mid Devon District Council’s website under reference 24/00902/FULL.

To see more public notices and planning applications, visit: publicnoticeportal.uk/.