Potential new Exeter Park and Ride site revealed

It would sit between the A379 and A38 at Peamore

But the report to the cabinet of Dave Black, Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment, says that while the County Council are unable to recover the cost of the infrastructure, an option instead is of a monetary repayment to secure land of an equivalent value in lieu.

He added: “In relation to this site, it is proposed to secure land for the purpose of delivering a park and ride site. It is proposed to undertake stakeholder consultation and, depending on the outcome, submit a planning application for this site, based on the preferred option, which is considered necessary in advance of securing the land.”

Diagrams with the report show that the park-and-ride site would occupy land between the A379 and the A38, and access would be via a new roundabout that is set to be created on the A379.

The site is next to land that Teignbridge District Council controversially gave permission for a major commercial extension, after returning to planners.

The Exeter Estates Ltd could see 1,600 new jobs created.

Devon County Council has ambitions to create new park-and-ride sites on all the main corridors into the city and double the number of spaces, but previous plans have faced difficulties after the scheme to use the Roundfield site in Ide was scrapped and no suitable sites on the North West side of Exeter were found.

The cabinet are also recommended to award the contracts for the construction of two additional new junctions on the A379 within a budget threshold of £4.5m.

The Eastern Junction is a new access junction to a development parcel between the Devon Hotel and Matford roundabouts and would enable two parcels of land to be developed. The report says that the delivery of the junction by Devon County Council will ensure that the junction is able to unlock both landownerships.

A second junction, which will have sufficient capacity for both the proposed new free school and an early phase of development, is also planned. The signalised junction would then be upgraded at a later date in combination with other works to the A379.

Mr Black’s report says that any delay in the delivery of the Interim School Access Junction would have the impact of delaying the delivery of the all-through school at South West Exeter, which cannot be delivered in advance of the junction works and access.

He added: “The risk of a delay to the delivery of the school is the loss of the free school. This would have a significant cost implication for the county council as the cost of the free school is estimated to be in excess of £30 million. There would likely also be a delay to the delivery of the school, which is a significant risk as there is considerable pressure for secondary school places in Exeter.”

A planning application for the new 630 place primary school and 750 place secondary school for the site has been submitted and is awaiting determination by the county council.

Linked to the delivery of the proposed all-through school is the delivery of a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the A379, and the county council is currently working with developers to confirm final levels for the bridge to allow detailed design to be progressed, but the design and cost remain appropriate compared to the funding received from the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Recommending that the cabinet award contracts to deliver the junctions and undertake consultation towards submitting a planning application for the park-and-ride, Mr Black said: “The aim of the Housing Infrastructure Fund in relation to South West Exeter is to unlock development through the upfront, coordinated delivery of infrastructure.

“Although the funding contract with Homes England has not yet been entered into, progress in relation to this is being made. The delivery of the junction works will help to meet the aims and timescales identified in the HIF bid. Furthermore, it will help to support the delivery of the all-through school as well as supporting the delivery of development.”

Other infrastructure set to be developed at a later date as part of the HIF bid includes the realignment of Chudleigh Road, Alphington Village enhancements, a new country park, and further junctions on the A379.