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Planning permission has been granted for a road in east Devon to be built as the main access route to a new so-called eco-community.

The town of Cranbrook, east of Exeter, will have about 3,000 homes.

East Devon District Council said the road would be located on land east of Station Road in the village of Broadclyst, and north of the old A30.

Work on the first section of the route is planned to begin next spring, ahead of the main development.

The Cranbrook scheme, which supporters say will help address housing needs and tackle climate change, is one of a number of environmentally-friendly new settlements to be built in England.

It will include schools, a community centre, an energy plant and a library.

The town will also have strong transport links as planners are to give it a dedicated bus route to Exeter, as well as build a railway station on the Exeter to Waterloo line.

Developers including Persimmon, Redrow and Taylor Wimpey are involved in the project.