In preparation for East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) new Local Plan and further to five public meetings held in September, proposals for site allocations for residential and employment development across East Devon will be considered at a public meeting on 29 October.

EDDC’s Strategic Planning Committee will reconsider a number of sites previously discussed to decide if they should now be allocated, to address a shortfall of more than 2,200 homes. A small number of new sites will also be considered. Sites in sensitive locations including within National Landscapes and Green Wedges have to be considered to meet housing numbers imposed by the government. The current requirement is 946 new homes per year, but this is set to rise to 1146 homes per year. EDDC is progressing a new Local Plan to be able to meet the 946 target, but this means a final draft of the Local Plan will likely need to be published by the end of this year to comply with government requirements.

People are encouraged to check the agenda for a list of sites to be discussed including revised recommendations. Some sites not previously selected for allocation, may be considered at the meeting. Where sites are to be reconsidered the public will be able to address the committee in line with the public speaking arrangements (see the agenda).

Cllr Todd Olive, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning, said:

“It is vital that we progress the Local Plan quickly to ensure that we meet the timescales for the plan to be examined under the current rules. Failure to achieve this will increase the number of houses that we are required to provide, to meet ever increasing government housing numbers.

“We are already having to make extremely difficult decisions to identify sites but we need to do this to maintain an adequate housing supply and retain full control over where development is built in the district in the future.” 

Of the sites under consideration by Strategic Planning Committee, none have been formally rejected. The major sites being reconsidered include sites to the north of Exmouth, east of Axminster, sites around Honiton, west of Ottery St Mary as well as a large development north of Topsham. The report also includes proposed new communities on land between Crealy Adventure Park and Greendale Business Park on the A3052, land between Clyst St Mary and Clyst St George and a new village to the south and east of Clyst St George. A number of smaller sites across the district will also be considered.  

The meeting is part of on-going discussions to agree a final draft of the new Local Plan ready for a public consultation. Afterwards, the Plan will be submitted for examination in public by a government appointed planning inspector.