New Devon community could shun South West Water

Marlcombe could opt for an alternative firm

East Devon’s major second new community of 8,000 homes could shun South West Water and opt for an alternative provider.

Planners behind the forthcoming development, which will be named Marlcombe after a public vote out of four possible names, are focused on ensuring vital infrastructure for the new town is in place before homes are built.

East Devon has said it is keen to learn lessons from Cranbrook, where there were early successes, such as schools being opened early in the town’s life, but problems in other areas, with Morrisons only opening in December last year – some 12 years after the first residents moved in.

As part of its efforts to control how Marlcombe develops, senior planners have told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that an alternative water and sewage provider could be sought.

“Speaking for the administration, we don’t trust South West Water to deliver the relevant infrastructure, and certainly not in time for the second new community,” said Councillor Todd Olive (Liberal Democrat, Rockbeare and Whimple), the cabinet member for place, infrastructure and strategic planning.

“The reason we are putting all this effort into a masterplan and a delivery vehicle is to make sure it comes forward with infrastructure at the right time.”

South West Water said it was “confident” it could meet the requirements of it in relation to the development of the new community, which will be sited between Exeter Airport and Crealy Adventure Park.

Cllr Olive added that SWW would “freely admit” a new treatment works is needed in the west end of East Devon, but that the council couldn’t let the wait for that impact the new community.

“We need a strategy that makes sure the second new community’s sewage will be dealt with and not be dumped on beaches,” he added.

In July, the water regulator Ofwat proposed a £24m enforcement package following its findings that South West Water had failed to meet its legal obligations in managing its wastewater treatment works and network.

“These failures resulted in the company spilling wastewater to the environment when it should not have done,” Ofwat said at the time.

Ian Lake, head of solution development & technical performance at South West Water, said: “We have been liaising with the East Devon District Council for a number of months and will continue to keep them updated throughout the development of the delivery plans for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for the new community of Marlcombe.

“We are confident we can meet the necessary requirements for these services.”

It’s possible Marlcombe will need around 10 individual treatment plants, and that the work of installing the sewage system as well as maintaining it, could be given to another firm.

Council officers have stated that while no decision has yet been taken, this responsibility could be handed to another existing water company, or even an entity that the council sets up through the Marlcombe delivery entity – a notional Marlcombe Drainage Co.

The council is aiming to create a so-called ‘delivery vehicle’ that will steer the development’s progress, and not rely on third-party commercial entities, as in the case of Cranbrook.

Crucially, the council said it is not seeking to become a housebuilder, but rather strike agreements with landowners and developers to help housing come forward at the right time alongside infrastructure.

It is also considering the power to pursue compulsory purchase orders of land, but has stated it would prefer mutual agreements over this approach.

Cllr Olive added that he hoped to work with developers, because the council could potentially secure cash towards major infrastructure upgrades that would help unlock the housing projects that developers would benefit from.

A key example was the need for airport junction enhancements on the A30, and connectivity improvements between that location and the A3052. Council estimates suggest each of these schemes alone would cost tens of millions of pounds.

Cllr Olive said the council could help secure that cash to enable a developer to fund those works before completing the homes it aims to sell.

He stated that Cranbrook had secured some successes in this regard, helping bag around £100 million in infrastructure investment, notably in relation to Cranbrook railway station.

Elsewhere, the council is hopeful Marlcombe could attract major funding for passing loops on the west of England mainline to potentially double service frequency from hourly to every 30 minutes.

A loop would enable trains to pass one another on an area of track that is currently only a single line.

The council said it was aiming to publish its masterplan in October, and hoping to launch its development corporation in early 2027.

“There were some positives with Cranbrook, such as the first primary school being open by the time just 30 homes were occupied, but the decision to leave everything to the developer was a fundamental mistake,” Cllr Olive said.

“I think the way we are approaching Marlcombe will lead to a significantly better outcome, and sooner, with infrastructure delivered early in the programme relative to how it came forward in Cranbrook.

“We need to show the people of East Devon that this is going to be the outcome. It isn’t down to them to take our word for it, there were mistakes and so it is down to us to prove we can do it better this time around.”