The Greater Exeter Strategic Plan – January 2018

180 people attended our seminar on Friday 19th January 2018 at the Gipsy Hill Hotel, Exeter, to learn more about the plans for new housing in Exeter, East Devon, Teignbridge and Mid Devon (The Greater Exeter Strategic Plan. GESP).

We are very grateful to Sir Hugo Swire MP for joining us and to Andy Wood and Simon Thornley from the GESP team for presenting the plans to us. A copy of their presentation can be found here

Growth Point presentation

Thanks too, to both the BBC and ITV who came to film the event! A lively question and answer session took place following the presentations, with many people expressing concerns over the number of new homes planned for the area with the loss of green fields, and without the necessary services, transport, infrastructure etc to support them. And the topic of affordability was widely discussed. How many of these new homes will be genuinely affordable?

We took the opportunity to announce that CPRE Devon have commissioned an independent research company, to analyse the statistics, facts and figures etc throughout the County to really understand and to challenge what really are Devon’s housing needs? Our report will be launched in the Spring.

related posts

150MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Axminster – At Appeal

An inquiry is due to commence on 10th March 2026, and scheduled to last for 4 days, regarding the application for a BESS on Land South of Hazelhurst, Raymonds Hill, Axminster (East Devon District Council reference number 24/0096/MFUL) (Appeal: APP/U1105/W/25/3369854). We strongly objected to the proposal because it would be a massive industrial complex of 27 acres located in the open countryside, in an area

Read Post

More houses for Halwill Junction, Torridge?

Despite a previous appeal for a new housing development in Holly Lane being dismissed, a new application has been submitted to Torridge District Council for 20 dwellings (ref 1/0020/2026/FULM). We have submitted an objection because the current proposal does not meaningfully address the Inspector’s previous concerns and does not overcome the reasons why the earlier scheme was dismissed.

Read Post

Application for 120 dwellings on the Callington Road, Tavistock, faces strong opposition

There has been a large outcry of opposition from local residents to this latest planning application for new houses in Tavistock, with many people fearing that the roads and services in and around the town just can't cope with any more. We have submitted a comprehensive objection to the application (ref 3771/25/OPA). Approximately 91% of the site is classified as Grade 3a agricultural land, which

Read Post

Another large housing development at Ottery St Mary, East Devon

We have submitted a comprehensive objection to the latest application for 63 dwellings on land east of the Sidmouth Road (ref 26/0094/MOUT). East Devon District Council's own evidence base Site Selection Report Ottery St Mary (Sept 2024 p 36-38) concluded this site should not be allocated due to landscape sensitivity, heritage considerations, infrastructure constraints, highway limitations, and high-quality agricultural land. There has been no change

Read Post

STOP PRESS! Holsworthy Beacon – Devon’s mega solar proposal

We have just heard that Beacon Solar have withdrawn their NSIP application for the 2,700 acre project at Holsworthy Beacon, citing a need for ‘further assessment’. While this is good news, we do not regard it as an end to the threat. Therefore please continue to sign and share the Petition devoncpre.org.uk so that we are all the more prepared if and when the application

Read Post

9 dwellings, Westleigh, North Devon – Appeal lodged

Folowing the refusal by North Devon District Council (ref 80423), an appeal has now been lodged. Appeal ref 6003960. The deadline for comments to be received by the Planning Inspectorate is 4th March. Comments can be made online at acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk. We had objected to the application, supporting our members of the local community who oppose the scheme.

Read Post