Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Strategic Planning Committee meeting held on 8 July 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 July 2025 were confirmed as a true record.

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making declarations of interest

Minute 14. Newton Poppleford Settlement Boundary.

Councillor Jessica Bailey, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Devon County Councillor for Newton Poppleford.

Minute 15. East Devon Local Plan - consideration of potential plan changes to allocations.

In accordance with the Code of Good Practice for Councillors and Officers dealing with planning matters as set out in the Constitution, the Chair, Councillor Todd Olive, on behalf of Committee Members advised lobbying in respect of site allocations Exmo_20, Honi_07, Honi_12, Honi_13, Honi_18, GH/ED39a, GH/ED/39b and Whim_08.

Minute 15. East Devon Local Plan - consideration of potential plan changes to allocations.

Councillor Jessica Bailey & Councillor Paul Hayward, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Devon County Councillors.

Minute 15. East Devon Local Plan - consideration of potential plan changes to allocations.

Councillor Olly Davey, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Exmouth Town Councillor.

Minute 15. East Devon Local Plan - consideration of potential plan changes to allocations.

Councillor Paul Hayward, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Devon County Councillor.

Minute 15. East Devon Local Plan - consideration of potential plan changes to allocations.

Councillor Paul Hayward, Affects Non-registerable Interest, Employee of Axminster Town Council.

Minute 15. East Devon Local Plan - consideration of potential plan changes to allocations.

Councillor Todd Olive, Affects and prejudicial Non-registerable Interest, Lives very close to site allocation Whim_11.

Minute 17. East Devon Local Plan - Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation.

Councillor Paula Fernley, Affects and prejudicial Non-registerable Interest, Lives close to site allocation Brcl_29.

Information on public speaking is available online

Minute 15 – East Devon Local Plan – consideration of potential plan changes to allocations.  Councillor Roy Collins expressed his deep concern about the global food crisis, highlighting the alarming trend of farm closures and the loss of millions of acres of productive farmland.  He noted that extreme weather events are increasingly devasting crops worldwide, compounding the issue.  Councillor Collins criticised current government policies, stating they are contributing to farmers abandoning their livelihoods.  He referenced that over 6,300 farming-related businesses in the UK have shut down in the past year alone.  He urged the Committee to take decisive action to protect farmers and preserve farmland before the situation become irreversible.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

There were no matters of urgency to discuss.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway.

There were no confidential or exempt items.

This report follows a resolution at Council on 16 July 2025 where it was resolved that Strategic Planning Committee be asked to reconsider the proposed settlement boundary for Newton Poppleford.

The report before Committee asked Members to reconsider the proposed settlement boundary for Newton Poppleford following concerns raised by Councillor Burhop in his capacity as Ward Member about how the western side of the village would not be accessible to the centre of the village as it did not have safe footpaths.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management explained that there were two options for consideration referring to appendix 1 which would revise the boundary to that previously recommended by officers and appendix 2 which would retain the settlement boundary as previously agreed by Strategic Planning Committee.

Councillor Burhop, Ward Member for Newton Poppleford and Harpford joined remotely to expand on his concerns explaining that the proposed allocations Newt_04 and Newt_05 would affect the western side of the village that do not have a footpath emphasising that a footpath may or may be created to access the centre of the village.  He advised that he supported the officer recommendation to revise the boundary to that previously recommended by officers as detailed in appendix 1 which would protect the village to the west by unwanted development, and which also had the support of the Parish Council.

RESOLVED:

That the settlement boundary for the settlement of Newton Poppleford be revised to the boundary that had previously been recommended by officers as shown on the map at appendix 1 as a thick black line.

Public speaking for this item has been limited to no more than 2 speakers on any one site.

The Committee received a presentation from the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management on the list of sites that Members had requested officers to reconsider in light of a higher number of objections received from the public and statutory consultees from the first Regulation 19 consultation.

Members noted that site Lymp_01, which had previously been suggested had been included in error and would therefore not be considered and that site Honi_18 which had not been previously mentioned had now been included as it had come to light that a petition of over 80 signatures objecting to this site had not been addressed in the feedback report which the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management offered his apologies for.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management reminded Members about the need to remain in the transitional arrangements introduced by the updated National Planning Policy Framework as this allowed the plan to meet only 80% of the district’s currently identified housing need.  He also asked Members to consider the National Planning Policy Framework regarding the two-phase Regulation 19 consultation, noting its relevance to the site allocation discussion.  The guidance clearly states that the content of an emerging plan must not change significantly from what was presented at the initial Regulation 19 stage as this could potentially lead to the need to find an additional 5,000 homes.

Councillor Ingham asked why the four large sites, were considered after the Committee had already gone through a detailed process of identifying a wide range of potential housing allocations in existing settlements to meet the emerging local plan target. The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management acknowledged that focusing on the large sites might seem appealing, as it would reduce pressure on existing settlements.  However, he explained that these sites were found to not support sustainable development over the plan period.  Councillor Ingham disagreed, saying that the sites were dismissed simply because they were no longer needed to meet the housing target.

Clarification was sought from officers about what could be done to avoid the Inspector determining that the plan had undergone substantial changes.  Members were advised that some changes could be made but they must be mindful of making significant changes as these would change the transitional arrangements.  For example, Exmo_20 includes 48% of the total number of homes allocated in Exmouth and so any loss of this site would constitute a fundamental change as this percentage of houses could not be made up elsewhere in Exmouth.

EXMOUTH

Exmo_47 – land west of Hulham Road, Exmouth.

Proposed use: residential, 15 dwellings

Main issues:

Impact of heritage assets – close to the Grade I Point in View Chapel, Grade I The Manse and Grade I A La Ronde.

Officer Recommendation:

Retain Exmo_47 as an allocation for 15 dwellings though with policy refinement to follow to more fully emphasise heritage protection matters.

Exmo_20 – land at St Johns, Exmouth.

Proposed use: mixed use development, 700 dwellings

Main issues

Harm  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

This report sets out information and recommendations in respect of where Coastal Change Management Areas (CCMAs) are defined.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

This report sets out information and recommendations in respect of the accommodation needs of the gypsy and traveller communities given that one of the sites proposed in the first Regulation 19 plan is no longer considered to be available/suitable for allocation.

Councillor Paula Fernley was not present for this item and so did not take part in the discussion or vote.

The report presented to the Committee outlined the current position and proposed changes regarding gypsy and traveller site provision within the Local Plan, including risks, policy amendments and site allocations.

The Local Plan identifies a need for 29 Gypsy and Traveller pitches over the plan period which would be met through 15 pitches at the second new community, 5 pitches east of the M5 and 15 pitches at Cranbrook.  Although this addressed the quantity it did not address the timing and it was noted that most pitches would not be delivered in the first five years.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised that to address the short-term gap site Brcl_26 – Langaton Lane, Pinhoe had been proposed however due to unresolved issues and the absence of a willing landowner it was now recommended that site Brcl_26 be removed from the plan and to rely on windfall sites in the short-term.

In addition to the deletion of site Brcl_26 it was also recommended to make some changes to Policy HN09: Gypsy and Traveller Sites as set out in the report which represented the objections received, including a representation from Gypsy and Irish Travellers and new travellers in Devon and Cornwall and a Charity called Traveller Space.

Comments and questions from Committee Members included:

·         Clarity was sought on the policy changes to HN09 and whether long-term vacancy sites should be protected regardless of the current need, especially with the new town development increasing availability.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised there is a clear need for these sites now and that need will remain unmet until new communities are fully established.  It was suggested that the sites that have been left vacant were due to wealthy landowners having no intention of using them which in practice means the Council has already lost those sites.

·         We need to be mindful that sometimes travellers do not want to use the sites that local authorities have allocated for them. 

RESOLVED:

That site allocation Brcl_26 be deleted from the Local Plan and to amend the related plan policies as set out in the report.

This report summarises duty to co-operate considerations and highlights the need for continued work in a number of key areas and summarises the current position in each case and identifies key actions needed.

The report presented to Committee summarised the duty to cooperate current position which identified key actions needed to progress the plan.

These included:

Ø  Housing requirements – uncertainty from other local planning authorities about whether they will be able to meet their housing requirements.

Ø  Employment land  - East Devon objected to employment land provision in the Exeter Regulation 19 plan on the basis that if failed to allocate.  Members noted that discussions were progressing on Statements of Common Ground to set out the respective positions of the two authorities and delegated authority was sought to allow the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management to sign it.

Ø  Transport issues related to growth in the West End – work is ongoing on the Greater Exeter Transport Study and will be bought before Committee at the next meeting.

Ø  Implications of additional traffic for the Pebblebed Heaths – work is ongoing working towards a Mitigation Strategy and will be brought to Committee in due course.

Ø  Water quality – Additional work still needs to be completed to align with the current site allocations in the Local Plan and to understand the impacts on transmission infrastructure.

Ø  Green and blue infrastructure.

Ø  Control of pollution.

Ø  Water quality issues.

The Chair strongly endorsed the recommendations as set out in the report and proposed the recommendations subject to an amendment to the fourth recommendation to read:

4.         That Strategic Planning Committee note the update on the Water Cycle Study and agree to include a strategic policy on water quality, as generally described in paragraph 6.3 of this report, the details of which would be finalised following the completion of the water cycle study.

Comments and questions by Committee Members included:

·         Clearer wording in the policy is needed to help major developers understand what is required to improve the water environment.  This would ensure expectations are understood and met.

·         Struggling to understand the Exeter City Council comments on pages 108 and 109.  What is meant by ‘Greater Exeter’ as there is no defined area?  In response the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management explained that it dates back to the Economic Development Needs Assessment (EDNA) carried out during the work on the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan which covered the whole area of Devon.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the issues highlighted in the report be noted, particularly those matters that remain unresolved.

2.    That the addition of explanatory text to the local plan to deal with any future significant under delivery of housing in East Devon, or requests from other authorities to help meet their unmet housing requirements, as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report be agreed.

3.    To note that there continue to be concerns with Exeter City Council’s approach to employment land provision in the Exeter Plan which are being clarified through a Statement of Common Ground. Delegated authority to be granted to the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management in consultation with the Portfolio Holder  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

This report sets out further information on policy options for addressing proposals for wind turbines and wind farms in East Devon.

The report presented to Committee provided further information on policy options for addressing proposals for wind turbines and wind farms in East Devon.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management reminded the Committee that as the new NPPF published in 2024 had introduced a greater support for wind energy and removed the need for specific area allocations it was proposed to adopt a criteria-based policy which would respond to Historic England’s feedback, align with the evolving direction of national policy and address the committee’s discomfort with identifying specific areas.

Comments from Members included:

·         Do not agree with the comments from Historic England as it does not mean they will not be tested again at the planning stage just like solar farms are. 

·         Could the Council take a hybrid approach and have a criteria-based policy as this way we are not endorsing them outright?  In response the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised that this could potentially open up other sites to come forward and was less restrictive but that it would not be technically viable other than on a small domestic basis.

·         Support was expressed for a criteria-based policy.

RESOLVED:

That the changes to the plan in respect of wind turbines and wind farms as set out in the report be endorsed.