The design and construction of a potential new East Devon town is set to be looked at by an internationally known consultancy firm.

CBRE, who will be working with East Devon District Council (EDDC), are leading a team which will identify a suitable site for the project, and provide advice on its viability, infrastructure, planning, urban design/vision, environmental measures and construction options.

It is hoped the new development could include up to 8,000 new high quality, sustainable homes along with a range of community facilities and amenities, in a biodiverse and zero-carbon environment, in the north west area of East Devon, that is also exemplar for future developments.

Councillor Paul Arnott, EDDC’s leader and the authority’s portfolio holder for strategic planning, said:

Over the last three years, our council's priority has been to make sure that the views of the public on major initiatives such as this are heard through high-quality consultations.

In our renewed Local Plan process, we welcome both members of the public and industry experts to share their opinions on how we shape the future of East Devon. As one of the cornerstones to this, we have commissioned the well-respected CBRE to start the arduous process of informing the council on preferred routes of travel to deliver a true 21st century community with net zero and sustainability at its core.

CBRE’s team will be led by Louise Wyman, executive director strategic development, working alongside Simon Phillips, director of planning, and senior director Andrew Round. Technical support will be provided by partner organisations including Hydrock, Tibbalds and Pinsent Masons.

Louise Wyman said:

The next decade is likely to see significant changes to placemaking, due to the impact of climate change policy.

The multi-disciplinary team led by CBRE are committed to producing proposals that are future proofed, where the principles of sustainable development and delivering a net zero community are embedded in our approach.