skip to main content
Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

Hill Barton – Central Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-ED-3

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: o613766, ip137o4, m1137zj, a91379k, m31378s, gw141y6, 7d15y6f, my145c4, sl15yam, uc15yv7, g715yay, 6c15yu6, v9137vw, ol15yxw, c7141v0, s914y0p, 1n13rl1

Parish(es): Clyst Honiton, Sowton, Farringdon, Aylesbeare

District(s): East Devon District Council

Site size: 660 hectares

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: 11,320 – 14,606 homes

Indicative number of homes factoring in sensitivities and requirements (see below): 10,000 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: There is a relationship with site options SA-ED-2 (Oil Mill Lane) and SA-ED-7 (Higher Greendale) due to their close proximity and potential for the joint delivery of infrastructure, services and facilities. An adjacent site at Hill Barton is allocated as a strategic energy recovery location in the Devon Waste Plan.

Planning status: None

Summary description of the site: A large area largely comprised of rolling farmland extending from the A30 to the A3052. Adjoins Hill Barton industrial area 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
  • It comprises predominantly level land with limited landscape or historic sensitivity
  • 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 deliver a new route connecting the A30 to the A3052
  • Size and location would enable high frequency bus services to serve the development
  • It could link into the existing heat networks and could use 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. It could also link to the FAB Link
  • It could utilise proximity of Clyst Valley Regional Park and proposed Clyst Valley Trail
  • It has the capacity to deliver a self-sufficient, mixed-use garden community
  • It could deliver a regional hub for sports

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
  • It is not located in close proximity to an existing Railway route
  • Development here could increase traffic on the Clyst St Mary Roundabout and Junctions 29 and 30 of the M5 which are at or nearing capacity
  • Grade II listed buildings are present and the Grade I listed Bishops Court is nearby
  • A large proportion of the site is high grade agricultural land
  • A small area of the site is affected by flooding along the Aylesbeare stream / Holbrook
  • Part of the site experiences aircraft noise due to its proximity to Exeter airport
  • It is adjacent to the Hill Barton energy recovery site allocated in the Devon Waste Plan, the existing waste uses on site 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 Greenspace (SANG)
  • Extend and improve the Clyst Valley Regional Park including significant woodland planting
  • Attractive and legible pedestrian and cycle routes across the A30 and A3052 and into Exeter and contributions towards the delivery of the Clyst Valley Trail
  • Considerable improvements to the bus network including provision of new park and ride facilities along both the A30 and A3052 corridors and bus priority on the A3052
  • Delivery of an avenue link between the A30 and the A3052
  • Delivery of a district heating network utilising low carbon heat opportunities and linking to the existing Cranbrook network
  • New primary schools including early years plus potentially a new learning and skills campus including early years, primary and secondary provision
  • A variety of amenities and services including a town centre, employment, sports facilities, youth, library provision, healthcare provision and a recreation and biodiversity corridor along the Aylesbeare Stream
  • Development will need to respect the privacy of existing dwellings located nearby
  • Measures to address the risk of flooding on site

Please login / register to leave a comment.