Devon council to push ahead with plans to build 8,000-home new zero-carbon town

East Devon District Council (EDDC) will progress its plans to develop a second new town, which would provide up to 8,000 new homes, across two square miles of land east of Exeter.

Council members agreed to the principle of forming a new community in November 2022, as a key element of the emerging local plan (the East Devon local plan 2020-2040) in order to meet the government’s housing targets. 

According to the plans, 2,500 homes will be delivered up to 2040, after which a further 5,500 homes will be built. The majority of the homes will be two-storey buildings, with some taller three-storey buildings up to 10m.

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The new town will be built to the east of Exeter, between Westpoint, an indoor arena and showground, and Farringdon village.

Three options to the west of East Devon were considered, however this location was considered most preferrable in terms of sustainability and public transport links. 

The council has stated that the town will be zero-carbon, with a low carbon heat network, including a biomass plant and, subject to approval, a large solar farm. However, the solar farm proposals have been met with significant local objections.

Development of another new town, Cranbrook, began in 2011 and will provide a total of 7,750 new homes once the scheme has been completed.

Cranbrook is located six miles from where this second proposed new town will be built. Some members of Farringdon Parish Council opposed the plans at the planning meeting on 5 December, on the basis that it is too close to the first new town, Cranbrook. 

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EDDC’s plans state that “a self-sufficient, healthy and dynamic community with distinctive character” will be created, and that the scheme will provide a mixture of “equitable” housing tenures and employment spaces, which will be easily accessible by sustainable and active travel.

The site will provide sustainable transport links, including a potential new park and ride site near the A30 or A3052, a bus link with Cranbrook and on-site electric vehicle charging.