A planning inspector has overturned the city council’s decision to refuse outline permission for a greenfield development of 100 homes on land north of Pendragon Road overlooking the city.
The appeal against the council’s decision, which was made in March last year, has only just been decided because of a case backlog at the planning inspectorate.
The application to develop adjacent green fields on Exeter’s northern fringe which are not allocated as development sites prompted a major campaign by local residents, spearheaded by ward councillor Naima Allcock.
Pendragon Road greenfield development illustrative layout
The impact of development on the landscape setting, character and distinctiveness of Exeter’s northern hills, in conflict with current Exeter Local Plan policies, was cited as a key reason for refusal.
However the planning inspector’s decision accorded very substantial weight to the provision of 50 new affordable homes, half the total, in the development.
It also accorded substantial weight to the provision of the remaining market housing in the context of the council’s inability to demonstrate a five year supply of housing land, determining the supply position as just over four years at the decision date.
