Q: Isn’t there a lot of housing being developed in the city centre?
A: There is a lot of redevelopment going on in and around the city centre, but almost all of it is for student housing. In fact, the new properties planned or under construction will be able to accommodate 1,500 students.
Q: Aren’t enough houses being planned or built elsewhere in or around the city?
A: Exeter City Council needs to ensure that there is enough land identified as suitable for housing to meet the need for new homes five years ahead. This is known as the five-year land supply. In Exeter, as of June 2017, the land supply equated to around two years and four months – less than half what is required.
Q: What does a shortfall in the five-year land supply mean?
A: All councils need to have a Local Plan which means they can specify where new homes and businesses should be built. If they don’t have a five-year land supply then technically their Local Plan is not up to date and cannot be relied on. If councils do not have an up-to-date local plan, then there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development, as stated in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Q: How has this changed things?
A: In April 2016, a Planning Inspector considered an appeal against a refusal of planning permission for new homes at Topsham. He said: “…There is a serious shortfall in the 5 year housing supply as agreed between the parties…” Speaking about the site being considered then, he said: “…The proposed development would provide a significant amount of housing that would help in part to address the serious shortfall in Exeter’s housing land supply. This should be given great weight.”
Land at Clyst Road Topsham
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Land at Clyst Road, Topsham, Exeter
