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Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

Higher Greendale – Central Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-ED-7

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: ks137av, dl15yzt

Parish(es): Farringdon, Woodbury

District(s): East Devon District Council

Site size: 107 hectares

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: 1,776 – 2,292 homes

Indicative number of homes factoring in sensitivities and requirements (see below): 1,300 homes

Potential for employment use: It could deliver a significant amount of employment as an extension to Greendale Business Park and/or smaller scale employment uses to support housing development.

Relationship with existing allocations and other potential GESP sites: There is a relationship with site options SA-ED-3 (Hill Barton) and SA-ED-2 (Oil Mill Lane) due to their close proximity and potential for the joint delivery of infrastructure, services and facilities. An adjacent site at Greendale Barton is allocated as a strategic energy recovery location in the Devon Waste Plan.

Planning status: None

Summary description of the site: An area of land adjacent to the A3052 sloping gently upwards from west to east to its highest point at the top of Windmill Hill. Adjoins Crealy Adventure Park to the west and Greendale Business Park to the south.

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.
  • There are approximately 30,000 jobs located within 5km of the site including at Skypark, Science Park, Greendale and Hill Barton Business Parks
  • It could utilise nearby Clyst Valley Regional Park and proposed Clyst Valley Trail.
  • It could utilise existing bus services that run along the A3052
  • It could deliver a mix of uses and local employment
  • It could utilise waste heat from nearby projects including the strategic energy recovery locations at Hill Barton and Greendale Barton which are allocated in the Devon Waste Plan, if these came forward

Sensitivities

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

  • It may impact upon the Pebblebed Heaths and Exe Estuary which are Natura 2000 protected wildlife sites sensitive to an increase in the number of visitors
  • It may contain Great Crested Newts and other protected species
  • Windmill Hill is the likely location of a major battle during the 16th century Prayerbook Rebellion and has far reaching views
  • It is a long distance from existing services and facilities and on its own may not be large enough to deliver a wide range of services and facilities
  • Development could increase traffic on the Clyst St Mary roundabout and Junction 30 of the M5 which is at or nearing capacity
  • It is near to some grade II listed buildings and the historic settlement of Woodbury Salterton
  • A large proportion of the site is high grade agricultural land
  • A small area of the site is affected by flooding along the Grindle Brook
  • It may be visible from the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • It is adjacent to the Greendale Barton energy recovery site allocated in the Devon Waste Plan and existing waste uses and is partially within the associated Waste Consultation Zone

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 and Exe Estuary including provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANG)
  • Improvements to the bus network along the A3052 including park and ride and bus priority
  • A new primary school
  • A variety of amenities and services including a local centre, employment and healthcare provision.
  • 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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