Plans for up to 75 homes in a major Devon town that have already been approved look set to undergo a second round of scrutiny.
The scheme, submitted by Eagle Developments SW, was approved with conditions in July last year, but looks set to undergo renewed scrutiny by planners.
The plans were approved subject to a so-called Section 106 agreement being secured – which establishes factors such as financial contributions and affordable housing requirements – and including two further conditions relating to water conservation and water supply as recommended by South West Water.
East Devon District Council officers, along with the planning committee chair and the relevant ward member were also due to confirm with South West Water that the Maer Lane Pumping Station could cope with the additional foul drainage demand, with the potential for a Grampian condition requiring sewerage upgrades.
But East Devon’s planning committee will again be looking at the plans this week (Tuesday 7 July) after opposition Councillor Geoff Jung, who represents the ward the application is located in.
Nevertheless, East Devon’s planning officers are still recommending approval with conditions.
The site, on land near King’s Garden and Leisure, on Hulham Road, is next to the Goodmores development – new housing built by 3West.
Additional information provided to the committee ahead of its upcoming review of the application shows that the Maer Lane South West Water works does have capacity, notably due to upgrades carried out between 2023-2025, and over 300 metres of relined sewer pipeline entering the works which “increased the effective throughput and reduced storm overflow events”.
Furthermore, even the council’s own water cycle study, which assessed capacity at the district’s sewerage plants, established there was capacity at Maer Lane.
As such, planning officers do not believe a Grampian condition – which requires additional sewage works before a certain number of homes are built or occupied – is necessary. That view runs contrary to Cllr Jung’s, which is why it is returning to the planning committee.
Also, Devon & Cornwall Police had requested a specific financial contribution from the developer, however, planning officers don’t believe this is appropriate.
The force had made a request for £3,363 towards additional equipment and vehicles that it believed would be required due to the size of the proposed development.
But East Devon’s officers have concluded that the police had “not sufficiently evidenced or justified” the inclusion of the cash bid, and instead believe an alternative funding route – the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – is a better way to support the emergency services through the planning system.
The planning report states: “The police themselves acknowledge that strategic infrastructure such as the replacement Exmouth Police Station is intended to be funded through CIL mechanisms.
“In this context, any wider funding requirements arising from cumulative growth across the district are more appropriately addressed through the Council’s CIL process, which provides a transparent and equitable mechanism for prioritising and delivering infrastructure.”
The recommendation before the committee is to approve the scheme without a Grampian condition and without the police cash request, alongside the completion of a S106 agreement and the other conditions agreed to in the initial approval.
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