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Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

Feniton – East Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-ED-15

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: 9x14yv0, ag14yy0, ab12sf9, l7140gh, rn15ypr, 7s127ma, t413aex, uq1400m

Parish(es): Feniton and Ottery St Mary

District(s): East Devon District Council

Site size: 352 hectares

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: 6,012 – 7,757 homes

Indicative number of homes factoring in sensitivities and requirements (see below): 2,800 homes

Potential for employment use: It would need to provide a mix of employment uses alongside housing.

Relationship with existing allocations and other potential GESP sites: None

Planning status: Multiple planning applications refused and dismissed on appeal for development within this site option.

Summary description of the site: 352ha of predominantly agricultural land surrounding the village of Feniton, on both sides of the railway.

Opportunities

This site is identified for consideration in the GESP because:

  • It is close to Feniton train station and the A30
  • Feniton includes a number of essential services already which could be enhanced
  • It could potentially help to address existing issues of flood risk

Sensitivities

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

  • It may impact upon the Pebblebed Heaths which are Natura 2000 protected wildlife sites sensitive to an increase in the number of visitors
  • Parts of the site are affected by flooding
  • It may be visible from the Blackdown Hills and East Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and development of higher slopes and southern parts likely to be particularly visible
  • The site is partially within a mineral consultation area identified in the adopted Devon Minerals Plan
  • Access from the A30 and across the railway insufficient for strategic scale development
  • Frequency of train and bus services in Feniton is poor. Some distance from Exeter and could increase pressure on the already at capacity Junction 29 of the M5
  • A number of Listed Buildings exist within and nearby including Grade I Listed Buildings at the Church of St Mary and Cadhay House as well as the Ottery St Mary Conservation Area
  • Limited employment opportunities in close proximity
  • Local primary provision at/approaching capacity. The Kings School lies a significant distance away.
  • A large proportion of the site is high grade agricultural land
  • Topography could reduce capacity in some parts of the site
  • Reasonably close to Escot Park County Wildlife Site and may contain Great Crested Newts and other protected species
  • South-east corner of the site contains an historic battlefield and site of a former castle

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 Pebblebed Heaths, including provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace(SANG)
  • Measures to address the risk of flooding on site
  • Rail infrastructure improvements to enable half-hourly train service frequency
  • Significant improvements to vehicular access from the A30 plus railway crossings
  • On-site primary school provision including early years plus additional secondary places
  • A variety of amenities and services including a small amount of convenience retail, local employment, sports, recreation and healthcare provision
  • Retention and enhancement of provision at Feniton playing fields
  • Development will need to respect the privacy of existing dwellings located nearby

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