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Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

Attwells Farm – Central Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-EX-1

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: 3v1377v, bw13rm1, pe15y61

Parish(es): Whitestone / Exwick

District(s): Teignbridge District Council / Exeter City Council

Site size: 44 hectares

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: 483 – 624 homes

Indicative number of homes factoring in sensitivities and requirements (see below): 400 homes

Potential for employment use: No

Relationship with existing allocations and other potential GESP sites: None

Planning status: None

Summary description of the site: The area consists of a bowl of mainly steep agricultural land on the north west fringe of Exeter, beyond the built-up area of Exwick. The area is bounded by Rowthorn Road and Redhills to the west. Exwick Lane crosses the site east to west. The land form is complex. The southern part of the site is within Exeter, but the majority of the site is within Teignbridge.

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

  • Homes would be 3km from the centre of Exeter, within cycling distance and with potential for improvements
  • Local facilities are nearby
  • There is potential to provide significant green infrastructure opportunities for Exwick
  • A potential southern road connection to Redhills would address highway constraints

Sensitivities

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

  • Development may impact upon the Exe Estuary which is a Natura 2000 protected wildlife site sensitive to an increase in the number of visitors
  • The site may contain Great Crested Newts, Cirl Buntings and other protected species
  • The local road network and road access is poor and there is limited scope for upgrading
  • A large proportion of the site is high grade agricultural land (although steep)
  • The site is likely to be too small for a new primary school or GP services, so will rely on off-site provision
  • The site is within a locally designated ‘Area of Great Landscape Value’
  • Large parts of the site are steeply sloping (1:10 – 1:4) with subsequent negative impacts on build costs, place-making, permeability, engineering costs, site viability and surface water drainage

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)
  • Improved foot, cycle and bus routes into the city
  • Contributions to additional local primary school capacity
  • Contributions towards secondary school and GP provision off site
  • Measures to ensure surface water run-off does not cause issues downstream
  • Improved road access, particularly to Redhills

 

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