Plans for 200 new homes on the edge of Exeter which include safeguarding land for the potential Monkerton railway station have been approved.

Exeter City Council’s planning committee last Monday night (January 18) almost unanimously backed the scheme that will be up to 200 homes built on land at Hill Barton Farm.

The site is allocated for development within the Monkerton and Hill Barton Strategic Residential Allocation and previous outline planning permission for a scheme had been granted, but lapsed as work had not begun.

Planners had initially recommended refusing the scheme as only 10 per cent of the houses were due to be affordable, but following late negotiations, that had been increased to a policy compliant 35 per cent.

They subsequently changed their recommendation to approval, and councillors backed the plans by 12 votes to 0, with one abstention, when they met.

Planning officers had told the committee that it was accepted that the site meets the principle for housing as sustainable development, that the Council does not have a current five year housing land supply, and it was clear that the scheme as submitted for 200 dwellings would contribute towards the Council’s shortfall of deliverable housing sites in the area.

South West Farmer: Artist impression of the 380 home Pinhoe Quarry development. Picture: LiveWestArtist impression of the 380 home Pinhoe Quarry development. Picture: LiveWest

And following the confirmation that their proposed offer of 10 per cent affordable housing has been increased to a policy compliant 35 per cent affordable housing, they said that it was recommended the plan be approved.

Cllr Rob Hannaford said that it was obvious that only 10 per cent affordable housing was unacceptable as due to the desperate need in the city, but that it was clear that the site was going to be developed and that he was happy with the 35 per cent affordable housing.

Cllr Emma Morse, chairman of the committee, added: “This is not without the problems but it is part of the strategic plan, and it will provide much needed affordable housing for the area.”

While not part of the application, the potential for a new railway station has been identified to the south of the site beyond existing housing development within the Hill Barton Estate, and land is to be safeguarded as part of this development for that purpose. The proposed Monkerton station was proposed as part of the Devon Metro scheme for the area, but plans have stalled and gone no further.

The outline planning approval for the Hill Barton comes as work has started to build 380 new homes at the former Pinhoe Quarry site.

The development has been named Harrington Park, nodding to the well-known area of the suburb and the design, which incorporates open green space, play areas and ponds for the new residents and existing community.

South West Farmer: Artist impression of the 380 home Pinhoe Quarry development. Picture: LiveWestArtist impression of the 380 home Pinhoe Quarry development. Picture: LiveWest

While the overall scheme is set to take around eight years to complete, it is hoped the first homes will be ready to move into during autumn this year.

While 65 homes were originally earmarked for affordable housing as part of the outline planning consent, developer LiveWest’s current plans are to increase this to 152 homes with the support of funding from both LiveWest and Homes England.

The proposed scheme will include a range of homes, from one-bedroom flats to four- bedroom family houses, with the open market homes being sold under the Linden Homes brand.

Glynnis Poole, Planning and Technical Director for LiveWest, said: “We are very excited to have started our new development at Harrington Park in another successful partnership with Vistry Partnerships.

“Our vision is to create homes and communities that people love to live in and this is a location which definitely supports this. Alongside this, our firm commitment to delivering new affordable homes in Exeter will make a huge contribution to meeting local housing needs.”

In order to promote bicycle use in and around the development, a cycle route will be created through the site which will connect to Harrington Lane and off site to the wider Exeter area.

Charging points to support electric cars will be installed and there will also be the facility to rent electric bikes.