Agenda item

This report sets out a proposed response by this council to the consultation.

The Committee considered the proposed responses to Exeter City Council’s draft local plan consultation (Regulation 18) and Exeter Water Lane Supplementary Planning Document following the concerns that had been raised in the last consultation in 2022 about the loss of employment sites within the city. 

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management referred to the proposed response in paragraph 3.2 which highlighting some positive points which included:

·       Positive agenda for the future development of the city.

·       Coordinated working and actions between the City Council and East Devon District Council.

·       Welcome the commitment to move to net zero carbon which is line with this council’s aspirations.

·       A broad range of accommodation needs.

·       Welcome the allocation of 17 hectares of employment land – although it was noted this was a substantial shortfall to what they need to provide and the local plan should be more explicit in respect of quantifying overall levels of employment land needed.

·       Welcome the removal of the allocation for redevelopment of the existing Moor Lane motorway service station.  Although it was highlighted to Members there were concerns that the only other alternative suitable site would be 3km north of junction 29 around the Poltimore and Broadclyst area which has not been included in our local plan as it would be very harmful for the landscape.

·       Welcome the positive approach to green infrastructure but would be keen to see greater reference to green infrastructure beyond the city which would include the Clyst Valley Regional Park and Pebblebed Heaths.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management also referred to the proposed comments to the Water Lane Supplementary Planning Document which raised concerns that it failed to quantify and justify the loss of employment spaces within this long-established employment area which was much needed to support the economy.

Comments included:

·       The links to the Valley Parks were welcomed.

·       There is a need to comment about Exeter City’s lack of comment about how they will achieve a net zero carbon for 2030.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised that if Members were in agreement an extra sentence could be added to the end of the third paragraph to read ‘It is not however clear how they will achieve your corporate ambition of net zero by 2030.’

·       Do not support the council’s opposition to the removal of the motorway services (Policy STC8) as this area is a nightmare even without the planned increase in houses.  It was suggested that either the existing services needs to go or a second services needs to be built on the other side of the motorway to lessen the already congested roundabout and would benefit A376 and A3052.  In response the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised that a caveat could be included in the response to advise that East Devon District Council acknowledge that further transport assessment work is ongoing to assess the cumulative impacts of planning growth on Junction 30 and the wider road network and accept that this issue may need to be revisited if relocation of the services is required as a mitigation measure.

RESOLVED:

1.          The proposed response to the Exeter Local Plan Consultation be endorsed and its submission to the City Council be approved subject to the amendments discussed in the meeting delegated to the Assistant Director – Planning Strategic and Development Management in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair.

2.           The proposed response to the Exeter Water Lane SPD Consultation be endorsed and its submission to the City Council be approved subject to the amendments discussed in the meeting delegated to the Assistant Director – Planning Strategic and Development Management in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair.