City councillors had already said no to a plan from Tillian Homes for fields off Exwick Lane, but a government planning inspector overruled them in 2022. Now the company has been given the go-ahead to start building.
New houses on the outskirts of Exeter have been described as making the best of a bad job.
City councillors had already said no to a plan from Tillian Homes for fields off Exwick Lane, but a government planning inspector overruled them in 2022. Now the company has been given the go-ahead to start building.
Council leader Phil Bialyk (Lab, Exwick) said: “We can stamp our feet and holler and shout, but this is it. We need homes.”
The city’s planning committee heard that the homes on the hillside will be visible across the city, but trees will mask them in 15 years.
They pored over detailed plans for the 80 homes, and heard that their initial decision to reject them was overturned after an appeal.
The properties will be built in three distinct plots – one for detached homes, one for semi-detached and terraced homes and one for villa-style houses. A total of 28 will be ‘affordable’, meeting the council’s 35 per cent target.
Chris Marsh of Tillian Homes said the initial visual impact of the development would begin to reduce ‘from day one’ thanks to tree planting.
Cllr Michael Mitchell (Lib Dem, Duryard and St James) said: “Most of us did not want this in the first place, but I would like to congratulate our officers and the developers on coming to an acceptable development on this site.
“It’s a sad state of affairs that it went to appeal, but this is the best of a bad job.”