'High quality' pledge on new Exeter homes

Controversial development gets the green light

Developers behind a scheme to build nearly 100 new homes on fields on the outskirts of Exeter have pledged a ‘high quality’ development in the face of public opposition.

Residents living near the land near Beacon Heath raised £5,000 to fight the plans at a public inquiry, but saw their objections overruled by a government inspector.

Now the proposals for 93 homes off Spruce Close and Celia Crescent have been given the go-ahead by Exeter City Council planners, but with stringent conditions.

When the plans first came before the city council in 2021 they prompted angry protests from residents determined to protect their green open space. Nearly 500 letters of objection were received and the application was turned down by the city council in a unanimous vote.

However, the inspector overturned that decision in 2022 and said Exeter’s need for new homes outweighed other issues.

The plans, which include a large ’valley park’ on the north-western edge of the site, received 35 fresh objections before they came back to the planning committee this week, on grounds including increased traffic, flooding risks and the loss of privacy for nearby homes.

The principle of building homes on the site had already been agreed, but councillors discussed the details. They heard that many of the concerns raised at earlier stages had been addressed by the developers.

Cllr Naima Allcock (Labour, Mincinglake and Whipton) said it was a "very controversial" application, and added: “It faced strong opposition. It was the antithesis of the council’s policy for brownfield development.

“It was a sad day for all of us when the inspector decided to uphold the appeal. Many people are still angry and upset, but what’s done is done. Now it is about looking forward and making sure the negative impacts on the local area are mitigated to the fullest extent possible.”

The planned valley park, she said, was the "silver lining" of the scheme.

Dan Trundle of Black Box Planning, speaking on behalf of developers Edenstone Homes, assured the meeting: “This is a high-quality scheme from a proven housebuilder. It delivers much-needed family housing.”

He said the plans included 23 homes for social rent and nine for shared ownership.

Councillors raised concerns about drainage and increased traffic passing close to existing open spaces.

Cllr Matthew Vizard (Labour, Newtown and St Leonards) said: “I think refusal was the right decision in the first instance, and it’s a pity we are where we are, but there are no grounds to refuse this.”