East Devon commits to delivering infrastructure-first new community despite “frustrating” Government decision

East Devon District Council and Devon County Council are challenging the government’s decision not to select Marlcombe for the next phase of the national New Towns programme, as consultations are launched by the housing ministry today.

East Devon District Council and Devon County Council are challenging the government’s decision not to select Marlcombe for the next phase of the national New Towns programme. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government launched its consultations on the proposals today.  

Since being recommended as part of the New Town Taskforce report in September, East Devon District Council (EDDC) has been collaborating with a wide range of partners, including Devon County Council (DCC), to create Marlcombe as a model example of new community development. Alongside developing a detailed policy in East Devon’s Local Plan and bringing forward a masterplan to guide the development to ensure that the right infrastructure is delivered up-front to support community needs, the Councils have been working with a range of stakeholders to put in place the governance and delivery structures to ensure that these plans can be successfully implemented. 

Marlcombe is being planned as an “infrastructure-first” mixed-use, climate-resilient and inclusive town. EDDC is committed to learning the lessons from Cranbrook by delivering town services from the beginning such as sustainable transport options, essential health services, accessible green spaces, a new school and opportunities for employment and economic development, along with up to 10,000 new homes and 40% affordable housing.  

EDDC, with support from DCC, has been working closely with MHCLG and Homes England to define the funding and policy support that would make this approach a reality.  This includes working towards the establishment of a locally-led development corporation that would bring key partners together, deploy funding and ensure that that robust arrangements are in place for ongoing management and stewardship of community facilities.  

Councillor Todd Olive, Portfolio Holder for Place, Infrastructure and Strategic Planning, East Devon District Council, said: “It is a huge disappointment and a great frustration not to have been accepted on to the New Towns programme. We have spent months working with MHCLG and local partners to build an infrastructure-first plan that was designed around learning lessons from Cranbrook and putting the vision of a thriving community at the heart of this new development. We are particularly grateful to our partners at Devon County Council and Homes England for their support to date. 

Our targets for building new homes in our district are set by central government and our vision for Marlcombe intends to take that requirement and make it work for local residents, going beyond doing what is required of us by government by having the ambition to do what is right by creating a town and not just a housing estate; homes not houses. 

The government’s failure to support projects outside of large urban areas that have a mayor risks compounding existing inequalities and undermines the investment that the district and Devon so clearly need. The case for Marlcombe to be in the New Towns Programme speaks for itself: we have robust evidence and the best prospect of delivery at pace within this Parliament, and real experience from Cranbrook to enable us to avoid the pitfalls of new town development. If the government is serious about its growth mission, it must follow through on the New Towns Taskforce’s original recommendation to support Marlcombe. 

Although this latest news is a disappointment, our vision and ambition for Marlcombe remains. Marlcombe remains in our emerging Local Plan and we are continuing to work with our partners to ensure that we focus on delivering vital infrastructure and services by exploring alternative options for financial support. Next week, we are requesting that East Devon’s and Devon County’s Cabinet approve the establishment of a formal governance arrangement between local delivery partners, the “Interim Growth Board”, to deliver the vision for our new town.   

We intend to respond fully to the consultation to challenge the decision to exclude Marlcombe and to stand up for our district and for investment in our future. We urge our partners and stakeholders to do the same, and we look forward to a frank and robust discussion with government.”  

East Devon District Council Leader and Devon County Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Paul Arnott said: “High quality and affordable housing is one of the building blocks people need to live healthy and productive lives. This decision will particularly affect young people and key workers that our communities so desperately need and have a knock-on effect for the economy.  

It is therefore very disappointing, but we will continue to press for the funding, infrastructure investment and planning flexibility needed to ensure Devon can meet local housing need. There has been an urgent and recognised pathway for Plymouth City Council to join Devon and Torbay Combined authority in order that Devon can have a new Strategic Mayor, but Plymouth have stalled for the last year. Marlcombe is a casualty of that indecision. Plymouth has high expectations of inward investment around its valuable defence contract for Devonport, so may feel they are alright for their 277,000 people, but for the 812,000 people in the rest of Devon a fully engaged approach is now urgently needed. I call on Labour MPs in Exeter and Plymouth to come to our aid.”  

Details of the consultation are available here.  The deadline for responses is Tuesday 19th May.