A decision to reject plans for retirement homes on a former sports field in the heart of Exeter may have paved the way for an ambitious community green project.
There were celebrations outside the Civic Centre as the city council’s planning committee voted unanimously to turn down the proposals.
Now campaigners who fought against the development will develop alternative plans for community food growing, outdoor learning and natural play spaces on the former site of the Bramdean School playing field in Homefield Road, Heavitree.
Developer McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles wants to build a three-storey block of apartments on the field and may decide to appeal against the vote to reject the plan. The development would also include car parking, an electrical substation and landscaped grounds.
The developer says it would provide much-needed housing on a redundant piece of land.
Bramdean School closed in April 2020, citing financial difficulties and falling pupil numbers. The playing field is not open to the public.
The committee meeting heard that within the last few days the city council has been able to demonstrate that it can provide enough land to meet housing supply demands for more than five years. That means it has crossed a government-set threshold and no longer has to apply a ‘tilted balance’ in favour of development.
Cllr Lucy Haigh (Ind, Heavitree) warned colleagues: “This is virgin, open free space, and if this committee grants permission, no future generations will ever get it back.”
Cllr Helen Terry (Green, Heavitree) said the housing benefits of the scheme would not justify the harm it would cause.
Campaigner Charlotte Corden said more than 700 people had completed a survey supporting the community option, and more than 200 had already offered their time as volunteers.
Rachel Phillips of the Apricot Centre near Totnes, whose work in regenerative farming was recently endorsed during a visit by the Prince of Wales, has offered to help with the Heavitree project.
“This is no longer an aspiration,” said Ms Corden. “It is a credible, deliverable alternative.”
She said it would deliver more for the city than the suggested £1.2million community levy on McCarthy and Stone, which was described by Cllr Anne Jobson (Con, St Loyes) as ‘parsimonious’.
Ms Corden urged councillors: “Stand with the residents you represent. Uphold the law, uphold the development plan, and uphold national planning policy, and create with us a lasting public asset for Exeter.”
The campaigners have seen their application to have the field listed as an official Asset of Community Value turned down, but are seeking legal advice on whether the rejection is valid.
Cllr Michael Mitchell (Lib Dem, Duryard and St James) told the meeting: “This is a community asset, and I think we should be standing up for urban areas that have this limited amount of green space.”
And Cllr Alison Sheridan (Reform, St Loyes) added: “It is really important for the people of this area, who have this jewel in their environment, to have a say and be listened to.”
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