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Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

Houghton Barton West – North Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-T-3

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: fk15yeu

Parish(es): Newton Abbot / Ilsington

District(s): Teignbridge District Council

Site size: 120 hectares (of which 50 – 60 ha is developable)

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: 1,550 – 2,000 homes

Indicative number of homes factoring in sensitivities and requirements (see below): 1750 homes

Potential for employment use: Potential for small to medium scale employment uses designed into development.

Relationship with existing allocations and other potential GESP sites: Next to the existing Teignbridge Local Plan Houghton Barton NA1 allocation.

Planning status: No allocations or significant permissions.

Summary description of the site: 120 hectare site currently in agricultural use, adjacent to Seale Hayne and Teignbridge NA1 allocation. Site lies approximately 3.5km from Newton Abbot town centre. Site lies on the A383, with rolling countryside, rising up Ingsdon Hill and Seale Hayne ridgeline to the north.

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 adjacent to the existing NA1 allocation with opportunities for shared infrastructure, including neighbourhood hub, community building with GP services, green infrastructure and the planned new main road to the A382
  • The site is within cycling distance of Newton Abbot
  • The site (combined with NA1) could support a regular bus service into Newton Abbot
  • Appropriate site layout, use of material, planting and supporting infrastructure could potentially support and enhance the role of Seale Hayne as a community facility
  • Potential for creating public hilltop park and east-west walks along ridgeline

Sensitivities

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

  • It may contain Greater Horseshoe Bats, Great Crested Newts, Cirl Buntings, Dormouse and other
  • protected species
  • Seale Hayne and other listed buildings which form part of the historic setting
  • There is only westbound access from the A383 onto the A38. However, the new link road to Forches Cross has planning permission
  • The impact of the elongation of the town on the ability of residents to make active and sustainable travel choices
  • A large proportion of the site is high grade agricultural land
  • There are steeper sloped areas in north of the site with higher landscape sensitivity. However, this is also a green infrastructure opportunity
  • A small area of the site is affected by flooding, but any development would drain into the River Lemon which could increase flood risk in Newton Abbot town centre. In 2019 the area was identified by the EA as a critical drainage area, which is likely to increase water management requirements and cost

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:

  • Ensure protection of protected species including Greater Horseshoe Bats and their supporting habitats such as mature hedgerows and dark corridors
  • Strategic green infrastructure to provide movement corridors, compensatory habitat and a Country Park centred on the Seale Hayne and Ingsdon hilltops
  • New main road linking the A383 to the A382 serving this site and the allocated NA1 site
  • A multi-use community building to host local services as required including primary health care within a community hub area designed to provide a range of shops, services and employment opportunities for the residents of this site and the NA1 allocation
  • Sports hall – a 3 court indoor sports hall facility for hire to the wider community
  • One or two new primary schools to provide sufficient capacity to serve the existing NA1 and this site
  • Improved bus services into Newton Abbot, serving this allocation and a park and change facility near Forches Cross
  • Contributions towards Secondary Education and/or provision of new secondary school campus
  • Development will need to respect the privacy of existing dwellings located nearby
  • Measures to address the risk of flooding including contributions to increase the capacity of flood defence infrastructure at Holbeam dam

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