The Leader of East Devon District Council has written to the Prime Minister warning that councils are being put in an impossible position when planning for new homes.
Councillor Paul Arnott says local authorities are having to identify sites for housing growth without enough confidence that the infrastructure needed to support those homes will be delivered.
He argues that local authorities should not be forced into decisions that may risk environmental damage because of uncertainty over investment plans from infrastructure providers.
The letter follows years of concern about wastewater infrastructure in the region. In 2024, East Devon District Council passed a vote of no confidence in South West Water, because of fears about the impact of inadequate infrastructure on local communities and the company's ability to support future development.
Now, Councillor Arnott is calling the Prime Minister to strengthen coordination between councils, regulators, developers and infrastructure providers so that growth and infrastructure are planned together.
Councillor Arnott said:
“We’re committed to building the new homes our communities need and have developed a clear plan for where growth should happen in East Devon through years of evidence gathering and public consultation.
“But we’re increasingly being asked to make difficult decisions about future development because, if the promised infrastructure investment fails to materialise, there are consequences for our communities and environment.”
The issue is particularly relevant to Marlcombe, the proposed new community east of Exeter. The development is expected to grow to around 25,000 residents over time, but there are concerns that the preferred wastewater solution may not be operational until 2032, despite the first homes being planned from 2030.
Councillor Arnott says the situation highlights a growing national risk that decisions on where development takes place could be driven by infrastructure constraints rather than democratically approved Local Plans.
He said:
“The Prime Minister has rightly talked about giving more power to local communities and supporting good growth in every postcode. For that to work our Local Plans must shape future investment, not the other way around.
“I’m concerned that infrastructure providers could end up having a greater influence over development than local communities, because councils are left with little choice but to prioritise sites based on where utility companies say there is capacity, rather than those identified through democratically agreed Local Plans.”
“If government wants local authorities to deliver ambitious housing targets, they need to get everyone around the same table and make sure growth, infrastructure and environmental protection move forward together.
“At the moment, councils are carrying the responsibility for growth without the certainty they need to act in the public interest and to make that growth sustainable. That must change.”
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