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Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

Airport Business Park – East Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-ED-8

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: 8915ymr, st14y0w, 0115yrm

Parish(es): Clyst Honiton, Rockbeare and Aylesbeare

District(s): East Devon District Council

Site size: 27 hectares

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: Employment only

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

Potential for employment use: Yes

Relationship with existing allocations and other potential GESP sites: An existing East Devon Local Plan allocation of business park expansion is immediately to the west of this site. The site is close to jobs and homes being delivered on other sites across the West End, allocated in the East Devon Local Plan. The site is close to other GESP site options including SA-ED-1 (Sowton), SA-ED-3 (Hill Barton), SA-ED-5 (North of Airport) and SA-ED-25 (Westclyst).

Planning status: Not Applicable

Summary description of the site: 27ha of primarily agricultural land sandwiched between the airport and the A30. Bounded by the existing airport business park and allocated expansion immediately to the west, and the site of the proposed France-Alderney-Britain Connector (FAB Link) Converter Station to the east.

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
  • It is close to homes, jobs and services on sites allocated in the East Devon Local Plan
  • It is well located to attract strategic employment development
  • It has the potential to link in to existing heat networks and benefit from private wire opportunities from the Skypark Energy Centre as well as harness waste heat from the adjacent proposed FAB Link development
  • Could make use of and further enhance planned improvements to Long Lane and wider airport access

Sensitivities

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

  • Access along Long Lane needs significant improvement (plans in progress)
  • Airport junction on the A30 is nearing capacity
  • A small area of the site is affected by flooding
  • A number of Listed Buildings exist nearby the site including the Grade I Listed Rockbeare Manor and associated Listed Buildings and Registered Park & Gardens
  • The site may contain Great Crested Newts and other protected species and contains the Beautiport County Wildlife Site
  • Noise from airport (take-off and landing of aircraft and engine testing)
  • A large proportion of the site is high grade agricultural land
  • Airport related development could be required on this site and there is the potential for impact upon safe operation of the airport without appropriate safeguarding
  • It may be visible from the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Requirements

Planning requirements for the site will aim to create a great place to work, providing well designed new development with appropriate and well managed public open space and safe walking/cycling routes. All sites will need to provide 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:

  • Delivery of access improvements to Long Lane
  • Measures to address the risk of flooding on site
  • High quality, accessible employment uses allowing for further expansion of the Airport Business Park.
  • Safeguarding of land for expansion of airport facilities if necessary
  • Delivery of a district heating network harnessing waste heat from FAB Link and exploring links to the Cranbrook/Skypark network
  • Provision of a small amount of facilities to serve workers of the site
  • Measures to reduce noise impacts

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