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Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

Newton St Cyres and Sweetham – Central Growth Area

Site Reference: SA-MD-4

Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) sites included: mh15yzj, wm15y5z

Parish(es): Newton St Cyres, Shobrooke, Upton Pyne

District(s): Mid Devon District Council, East Devon District Council

Site size: 303 hectares

Number of homes considered in Sustainability Appraisal Report: 3,787 – 4,886 homes

Indicative number of homes factoring in sensitivities and requirements (see below):1,200 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: Possible relationship with site options SA-MD-3 (Crediton South) and SA-ED-26 (Cowley) to collectively deliver transport infrastructure, including rail, bus and cycle improvements.

Planning status: None

Summary description of the site: The site is around 8km from Exeter and comprises predominantly gently undulating agricultural land. The hamlet of Sweetham is located in the centre of the site with the larger village of Newton St Cyres on the south-west boundary. The site includes farms and isolated dwellings, with a golf course near Higher Rewe. The Tarka Line railway segregates the site with a small station at Sweetham.

Opportunities

This site is identified for consideration in the GESP because:

  • The site is reasonably close to Exeter, with the potential to access high quality jobs in the city
  • The train station offers the potential for residents to travel by rail, with less than 10 minute journey time, into Exeter (or beyond)
  • With provision of an appropriate route residents could cycle to Exeter or Crediton
  • The characteristics of the site provides the opportunity to deliver a new sensitively designed rural settlement based on garden village principles
  • In combination with the other potential GESP sites (Crediton and Cowley) there is potential to bring investment in improved rail services and cycle links e.g. the proposed cycle route (the Boniface Trail) from Crediton to Exeter

Sensitivities

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

  • A number of designated heritage assets are within or the edge of the site including Grade II listed buildings and the Newton St Cyres Conservation Area
  • A large area of the site is affected by flooding along the River Creedy and includes sections of Langford Road and Station Road
  • The highway network in the area is restricted and is likely to require significant investment to provide increased capacity and flood resilient access to the site
  • The site is segregated by the Tarka Line railway, with access points to Sweetham over railway bridges on Langford Road and Station Road
  • Crediton and Exeter Air Quality Management Areas could be impacted from increased travel movements.
  • A large proportion of the site is high grade agricultural land

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:

  • Contribution to the strategic cycle link from Crediton to Exeter (the Boniface Trail)
  • Enhancements to public transport infrastructure to enable increased frequency of rail and bus services between Crediton and Exeter, with more frequent stops at Newton St Cyres station
  • Improved cycle facilities at Newton St Cyres railway station
  • A package of improvements to upgrade Langford Road to address increased capacity and enable flood resilient access to the site
  • A primary school
  • Financial contributions towards secondary school provision and transport, and GP services
  • A village centre to include local services, a multi-functional community building, and employment space such as a work hub
  • 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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