Democracy doesn't work when people don't know  Upgrade to paid

NEWS

City council seeks comments on draft Householder’s Guide to extensions and alterations

Policy covers size and position, materials, boundary relationships, loft conversions, dormers, solar panels and roof terraces, among other residential development design considerations.

, updated

Martin Redfern

Exeter City Council is holding a public consultation on the draft version of an updated Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which provides detail on the design of extensions and alterations to residential property alongside policies in the existing local plan.

The city council’s current Householder’s Guide to Extension Design SPD was adopted in 2008.

Proposed changes include a new title and additional guidance on a range of details including design, size and position, materials, boundary relationships, access, parking and cycle storage.

There is new content relating to loft conversions and dormer extensions and additional guidance on solar panels, roof terraces and boundary extensions, among other things.

Policy on extensions and building lines on corner plot sites - illustrative diagram Policy on extensions and building lines on corner plot sites - illustrative diagram

Comments on the updated Householder’s Guide: Design of Extensions and Alterations SPD are invited via a dedicated website which allows respondents to agree or disagree with sections of the document and add comments below, with a separate section for general feedback.

It is also possible to upload PDF and image responses and download and complete a printable consultation response form.

The draft Householder’s Guide SPD consultation is taking place in parallel with a consultation on the full draft of the new Exeter Local Plan and another on an SPD for a large canalside development site centred on Water Lane.

Council officers are available to answer questions about all three local planning policy consultations at all the new Exeter Local Plan public exhibitions below.

New Exeter Local Plan public exhibitions

TimeDateVenueLocation
1-6.30pm25 OctoberHaven Banks Outdoor Education CentreHaven Road, St David's
1-7pm2 NovemberExeter Community CentreSt David's Hill
11am-2pm7 NovemberExeter LibraryCastle Street
1-7pm9 NovemberSt Thomas Cricket & Social ClubGrace Road, Marsh Barton
12.30-6pm13 NovemberMatthews HallFore Street, Topsham
1-7pm20 NovemberExeter GuildhallHigh Street
1-7pm27 NovemberEmmanuel Hall (Theatre Alibi)Emmanuel Road, St Thomas
11am-2pm28 NovemberExeter LibraryCastle Street
1-7pm5 DecemberAlphington Village HallIde Lane, Alphington
1-7pm7 DecemberPositive Light ProjectsSidwell Street
1-7pm12 DecemberNewcourt Community CentreBlakeslee Drive, Newcourt
4-7pm13 DecemberToby CarveryRydon Lane, Middlemoor
1-7pm11 JanuarySt Thomas Cricket & Social ClubGrace Road, Marsh Barton

The draft SPD consultation is open until 4 December.

Printed copies of all the council’s planning policy consultation documents can be viewed in the reception area at the Civic Centre and in libraries across the city.

Any queries can be directed to the council planning policy team at planning.policy@exeter.gov.uk or on 01392 265080.

Democracy doesn't work when people don't know

Public interest news that holds power and influence to account is more important now than it has ever been.

Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.

Exeter Observer was created to deliver the independent investigative journalism our local democracy needs.

It exists because people who think what we do matters are willing to chip in each month to help cover our costs.

We need more of our readers to contribute like this so we can keep producing and publishing our essential reporting.

133 of the 300 paying subscribers we need have signed up so far. Join them today to help us reach our goal.

If you value the work we do please support our work from less than £2/week. It's a small investment for a very big return.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
Grace Road Fields in March

Botched consultation restarted on sale of 8.5 acres of Riverside Valley Park green space

Council land disposal to include rights to lay underground distribution pipework across River Exe floodplain following “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields heat plant planning approval in face of Environment Agency sequential test concerns.

September 2025 permitted replacement scheme west elevation

Council denies data and contrives criteria to dismiss community balance concerns in third King Billy student block approval

Exeter Observer analysis finds more students living in city centre than residents as council bid to include PBSA in housing delivery figures weakens local planning policy – but does not remove it from decision-making altogether.

Exeter College and Petroc campuses map

Exeter College and Petroc merger set to create largest college group in South West

Colleges hold public consultation on creation of new organisation which they say would educate 16,000 students at Exeter and North Devon campuses and employ 2,000 staff with £100 million turnover.

Proposed Clarendon House student block aerial view

Proposals to replace Clarendon House with 297-bed student accommodation complex submitted for approval

Developer Zinc Real Estate arrives at final proposal for up to ten storey Paris Street roundabout redevelopment after nearly two years of informal public consultations and meetings with city councillors and officers.

Nadder Park Road application site location map

Barley Lane greenfield plans place persistent threat to Exeter’s north and north-west hills in spotlight

Council inability to identify sufficient land to meet government housing delivery targets leaves residents with faint hope of local plan policies preventing Nadder Park Road ridgeline development despite 175 public objections to scheme.

On Our Radar
Two Moors Festival musicians performing

WEDNESDAY 1 TO SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2025

Two Moors Festival

Chamber music festival celebrates 25th anniversary with performances, talks and workshops across fifteen venues.

DARTMOOR, EXMOOR & SURROUNDS

Play Interact Explore installation

SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER TO SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2025

Play Interact Explore

Theatre Alibi hosts an interactive exhibition suitable for all ages created by artists Leap then Look.

EMMANUEL HALL

Still from How the Little Mole Got His Trousers

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2025

Nature’s Resources

A programme of six short animated films explores the relationship between humans and non-human species.

EXETER PHOENIX