How should East Devon grow?

Final call for views

East Devon residents’ top priorities as part of the local plan review include small scale developments infilling current towns and villages, support for entrepreneurs and jobs in town centres.

This is according to the latest answers in a consultation on the new plan, which ends on Monday 15 March.

East Devon District Council is consulting the public on a report in the first stage of preparing the new East Devon Local Plan (2021-2040). The Local Plan shows how an area will develop in the future and provides policies which will guide decisions on whether or not planning applications are granted.

So far hundreds of people have had their say, although there have been few comments from young people, and the council is keen to hear from all groups in the community.

Cllr Dan Ledger, portfolio holder for strategic planning, said: “The current pandemic has changed the working habits of all of us. It has also given us the opportunity to reflect on how we might improve working conditions moving forward. The current issues and options consultation asks how EDDC should look to achieve this.

“Through your feedback, we will try to gain a consensus on how the district wish to see employment development come forward, where job creation should be focussed and how we should perceive the future working environments for all of our residents.”

New Homes

When asked about sites for housing developments, a quarter of respondents favoured 10 per cent of new houses being on small sites – in line with a government minimum standard.

So far residents have said that it is important not to swamp smaller communities, especially without providing the necessary infrastructure.

Other suggestions included building on small sites near towns and villages on unsightly unused brownfield sites in the hope it would be better for town centre regeneration, with less car use.

When asked where developments should go, the majority of people favoured infilling in towns and larger villages over building new communities.

As part of the consultation, residents have been asked how many new homes East Devon should plan for. Overall, 29 per cent of respondents favoured an annual average of 928 – this is a government minimum’level and a total of 31 per cent favoured higher levels of growth – EDDC gave examples suggesting this may help deliver more affordable homes.

A third of respondents also selected the ‘none of these options’ tick box.

Residents also suggested that affordable housing should be ring-fenced for local families and not be allowed as second homes and there should be a levy on existing second homes and holiday lets so the demand for these is reduced.

Jobs

Residents have also been asked where they think future jobs should be located, with the highest ranking answer was for ‘more home working’.

In order, thereafter were ‘more jobs in towns’ and jobs ‘close to Exeter’ – excluding the West End.

Another topic has been support for differing job sectors, with the highest ranking answer was for ‘more local entrepreneurs’, followed by more jobs in traditional sectors, more high-tech jobs. Investment by large firms scored lowest.

Residents also said employment creation across the whole of East Devon was important but different areas have different needs so schemes needed to be planned sensitively. Support was given towards providing help for apprenticeships in rural crafts.

Others said attention was needed to look at trying to optimise town centres and working within the town people lived in to encourage a greener way of living.

Alongside the issues and options consultation, the council is calling for sites , where members of the public can submit land for development, and a sustainability appraisal scoping report consultation, which is intended to ensure that potential social, environmental and economic considerations are taken into account.