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Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

Markham Lane – Central Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-T-17

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: Wt14xs7, u01290n, pn137xi

Parish(es): Ide / Shillingford St George

District(s): Teignbridge District Council

Site size: 62 hectares

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: 1,004 – 1,280 homes

Indicative number of homes factoring in sensitivities and requirements (see below): 1100 homes

Potential for employment use: No

Relationship with existing allocations and other potential GESP sites: Site is about 2km from South West Exeter (SWE1) urban extension in the Teignbridge Local Plan and the site option SA-T-18 (Peamore).

Planning status: None

Summary description of the site: This site is a series of agricultural fields on a steep hill on the south-western fringe of Exeter, within the landscape setting of the city. The site is just 3.5km from the city centre, making it potentially accessible by non-car means. The site is currently served by minor single track lanes.

Opportunities

This site is identified for consideration in the GESP because:

  • A large proportion of the site has been put forward by landowners for development
  • The site is close to the city and 1km from Alphington which has a good bus service
  • Site is within cycling distance of Exeter including the city centre and Matford
  • A proportion is in public sector ownership, providing potential influence over delivery and the opportunity to reinvest proceeds into infrastructure

Sensitivities

The site has a number of sensitivities which development would need to take into account, including:

  • It may impact upon the Exe Estuary, which is a Natura 2000 protected wildlife site sensitive to an increase in the number of visitors
  • It may contain Great Crested Newts and other protected species
  • Impacts on existing villages of Ide and Shillingford Abbot
  • Landscape impact, particularly on the green setting of Exeter. The site is within the locally designated ‘Area of Great Landscape Value’
  • A large proportion of the site is high grade agricultural land
  • Possible noise from A30 and impact on A30 Ide Junction
  • Potential for relatively high development costs and infrastructure costs
  • Creating a suitable access to the Ide A30 Junction may be unfeasible and requires further investigation

Requirements

Planning requirements for the site will aim to create a great place to live and work, providing well designed new neighbourhoods with appropriate and well managed public open space and safe walking/cycling routes. All sites will need to provide a mix of homes (including affordable and custom build), investment in low carbon energy and transport, high speed internet and wildlife enhancements. More detail on these can be found in the policies within Section B of this document. Other emerging requirements include:

  • Funding of measures to reduce the impact on the Exe Estuary including provision/contribution towards
  • Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG)
  • Ensure protection of protected species including Greater Crested Newts and their supporting habitats
  • Significant green infrastructure designed to minimise the impact of development on the landscape and to provide amenities such as play space and allotments
  • Junction and local road network upgrades. Further evidence on the cost and feasibility of improving vehicle accessibility from A30 Ide Junction and Alphington A30 bridge is required, including whether bus services would be capable of serving the site
  • Improved foot and cycle routes into Alphington, Shillingford Abbot and Ide
  • A new primary school or increased primary school capacity in the local area
  • Contribution towards Secondary School and GP provision off site
  • A multi-use community building with potential to accommodate a range of community uses
  • Measures to address the risk of flooding on site
  • Development will need to respect the privacy of existing dwellings located nearby

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